statement.The experimental drug, delivered only orally, is now being tested in human clinical trials by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and pharmaceutical company Merck.
Remdesivir, a different antiviral drug already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, can only be provided intravenously.Scientists said they found MK-4482 proved to be effective when given up to 12 hours before, or 12 hours after, the hamsters were injected with the coronavirus. RELATED: Pfizer begins phase 1 study of oral COVID-19 treatment drugThe latest study involved three groups of hamsters: a pre-infection treatment group, a post-infection treatment group and an untreated control group.