JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said that the drug molnupiravir is expected to help increase recovery in the handling of COVID-19 cases.
"Molnupiravir is thought to be effective in treating COVID-19. This drug works by triggering errors in the process of multiplying the virus in the body," said Wiku in a virtual press conference, Thursday, October 7.
Wiku said, initially molnupiravir was an antiviral developed for influenza. Then, currently molnupiravir is in the process of applying for a permit to the FDA as the drug regulatory agency in the United States.
then, currently the Indonesian government is also conducting clinical trials of the drug molnupiravir. Wiku said this is a step that must be passed to be able to use the drug in Indonesia.
"Similarly, before it can be used in Indonesia, of course the drug molnupiravir must first undergo the stages required by the POM, starting from the discovery and development stage, to monitoring the safety of drug consumption in the community," said Wiku.
Previously, 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, Molnupiravir, produced by the Merck company.
"We have approached the manufacturers of these drugs and we have planned for some to have started clinical trials," said Budi.
After 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.
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