Breaking News, News

Sri Lanka approves use of first pill to treat Covid

15 Nov, 2021

Feature Image

Sri Lanka has approved the use of the first pill to treat Covid patients, Molnupiravi.

State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the Covid-19 Technical Committee approved the use of Molnupiravir in Sri Lanka.

As a result, the drug is to be registered in Sri Lanka and made available for patients.

In clinical trials the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is the first antiviral medication for Covid which can be taken as a pill rather than injected or given intravenously.

The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.

The new treatment targets an enzyme that the virus uses to make copies of itself, introducing errors into its genetic code. That should prevent it from multiplying, so keeping virus levels low in the body and reducing the severity of the disease. (Colombo Gazette)

Recommended For You

Feature Image

Several UNP MPs urge Speaker to name Sajith as Opposition Leader

Another letter has been handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya calling on him to name defeated United National Party (UNP) Presidential candidate MP Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker’s Office said that 40 UNP MP’s have signed the letter. Earlier today UNP General Secretary, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, handed over a letter to the Speaker requesting him to name UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Opposition Leader.

21 Nov, 2019

Feature Image

New commission on Easter Sunday attacks

A new commission is to be appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had assured the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith that further investigations will be conducted into the Easter Sunday attacks. The Archbishop of Colombo had requested the new President to ensure justice is served over the Easter Sunday attacks, the Archbishop’s office said. Rajapaksa had assured that justice will be served and that a commission will be appoint

21 Nov, 2019

Feature Image

Gotabaya Rajapaksa acquitted in museum case

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was acquitted in the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case today as a result of the Presidential immunity he enjoys. The Permanent Special High Court ordered the release of Rajapaksa, who was accused of misappropriating Government funds for the construction of the museum. The court also ordered that President Rajapaksa’s passport be released. President Rajapaksa was accused of misappropriating Government funds when he was the Defence Secretary.

21 Nov, 2019