Early Friday morning, biopharmaceutical company Merck announced that the drug molnupiravir “reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50%” for COVID-19 patients in a Phase 3 trial.
The treatment involves taking a pill twice a day for five days. The company’s contract with the US government set the price of a treatment course at $700, or $70 per pill.
Overall, this is good news and will mean fewer deaths from COVID-19. People who experience severe symptoms now have an additional treatment option. But we should still be encouraging people to get vaccinated so there is less spread, and so people don’t get sick in the first place.
Overall, it’s good that people who are uncomfortable with getting the vaccine will have another treatment option. But it’s suspicious that the FDA has prioritized costly vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 over existing, cheaper options. The FDA should stop prioritizing the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies over people’s health. With treatments like this available, employers have no justification in mandating vaccines.
What else is the left focusing on?
The narrative: Overall, this is good news and will mean fewer deaths from COVID-19. People who experience severe symptoms now have an additional treatment option. But we should still be encouraging people to get vaccinated so there is less spread, and so people don’t get sick in the first place.
What else is the right focusing on?
The narrative: Overall, it’s good that people who are uncomfortable with getting the vaccine will have another treatment option. But it’s suspicious that the FDA has prioritized costly vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 over existing, cheaper options. The FDA should stop prioritizing the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies over people’s health. With treatments like this available, employers have no justification in mandating vaccines.