Looking For Drugs To Treat COVID-19 Patients, Ministry Of Health Assesses Molnupiravir

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said his party together with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and a number of vertical hospitals were conducting studies and clinical trials of new drugs to treat COVID-19 patients.

One of the drugs being studied is a new antiviral drug, Merck's Molnupiravir.

"We have approached the manufacturers of these medicines and we have planned that some have started clinical trials," Budi said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Monday, October 4.

After the clinical trials are carried out, Budi hopes that by the end of this year the new drugs can be used on COVID-19 patients.

"Hopefully by the end of this year we will know which medicines are suitable for the condition of our society," he said.

The antiviral drug Molnupiravir has been the talk of the town lately. The reason is that from the results of clinical trials, this drug made by Merck is said to be able to prevent the risk of COVID-19 patients being hospitalized and dying by up to 50 percent.

This has caused a number of countries to be interested in using it, including Indonesia and Malaysia. In fact, the neighboring country is said to have negotiated to make a purchase.