WASHINGTON - An influential panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are scheduled to meet Tuesday to review safety data of an experimental COVID-19 pill developed by Merck.The FDA’s Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee, which is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. ET, is made up of academics and other experts who will weigh in on its safety and effectiveness and vote on whether to recommend its use for certain groups.
The FDA isn’t required to follow the group’s advice.All COVID-19 drugs currently authorized by the FDA require an injection or IV, which limits their use.
Merck asked the FDA to authorize the drug, known as molnupiravir, in October. If approved, Merck’s coronavirus antiviral would be the first.