Merck Says Antiviral Pill for COVID-19 Is Effective, Plans to File for Emergency Authorization Posted byThe Epoch Times October 1, 2021 Leave a comment on Merck Says Antiviral Pill for COVID-19 Is Effective, Plans to File for Emergency Authorization The antiviral, molnupiravir, cut the risk of hospitalization or death in half for adults who were deemed at risk but not hospitalized, according to a planned interim analysis of the trial.