UK Becomes First to Approve Antiviral Home Pill for COVID-19

Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), June Raine attends a media briefing on the latest COVID-19 update, at Downing Street, central London on Sept. 14, 2021. Justin Tallis/Pool/AFP

Britain has become the first country to approve an antiviral COVID-19 treatment that can be taken as a pill at home.

The UK national medicines regulator, the MHRA, announced on Nov. 4 that the antiviral Lagevrio (molnupiravir) had been authorised to treat mild to moderate COVID-19—in those with other risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, or those over 60 years old.