The Taguig City government distributed 10,000 capsules of the oral coronavirus disease (COVID-19) drug molnupiravir under the brand name Molnarz to the City Health Office (CHO) that will be given to patients.
Last Dec. 22, the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of molnupiravir in mild to moderate COVID-19 cases in 18 years old and above.
“Indicated for treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults 18 years old and above with a positive SARS-COV-2 diagnostic test and who are at risk for developing severe illness,” according to the FDA’s EUA for molnupiravir.
According to the FDA, “COVID-19 Drug Molnupiravir 800mg (four 200mg capsules) should be administered orally every 12 hours for five (5) days. This should be given as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID-19 has been made and within 5 days of symptom onset.”
“COVID-19 Drug Molnupiravir is not recommended for women with childbearing potential, pregnant and lactating women,” the agency added.
The Taguig City government said according to the Institute of Clinical Epidemology of the National Institute of Health, molnupiravir is used for patients with at least one risk factor of progression
These risk factors of progression are individuals aged 60 years old and above, active cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease, obesity, serious heart conditions and diabetes mellitus.
As of Jan. 22, Taguig has 599 active COVID-19 cases including 337 additional new cases out of 56,807 confirmed cases, 55,767 recoveries and 441 deaths.
Mayor Lino Cayetano emphasized that molnupiravir is important to bring down the rate of hospitalization in the city.
“Despite of the continuous surge, Taguig has low rates of hospitalization. With this new medicine, we assume that severe cases will be avoided,” he said.
Residents who are COVID-19 positive may ask for molnupiravir by calling the Telemedicine of their barangays.
Patients will be assessed by a doctor and if they are eligible, the drug will be delivered to their homes.
The FDA warned about the “significant risks associated with the growing sales of the drug product molnupiravir in the market.”
“The recent surge of COVID-19 infections due to the Omicron variant created an increased demand on this investigational drug product, which is used in the treatment of COVID-19. This sudden demand has attracted unscrupulous individuals or organizations from distributing and selling this drug product in the market at a much higher price even without the required authorizations from this Office,” it said.