Merck’s COVID-19 treatment pill has been approved in one country

On Thursday, United State’s company Merck has their antiviral medication used to treat COVID-19 approved in the United Kingdom.

The pill was approved in an attempt to fight the outbreak currently happening throughout the country.

The drug, molnupiravir, was suggested to be used for those with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 with one risk factor that could cause issues like obesity or diabetes.

The drug will be given to a person after they test positive within 5 days of showing symptoms.

The U.S. will consider approving the drug next month.

The drug has been submitted to the FDA by Merck and is compared to Tamiflu, a common medication used to treat flu symptoms.

The former commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, said the pill could get society out of the pandemic phase of the outbreak.

Related: Merck applies for FDA emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 pill