His satisfaction with the actions that led to it being the Cyprus "One of the first countries in the European Union to proceed with the purchase and distribution of the antiviral drug Molnupiravir (Lagevrio)," said Cyprus's Minister of Health, Michalis Hatzipantelas.
As of today, our country has this specific medication, which contributes to the therapeutic response to the pandemic and protects high-risk patients from severe illness caused by COVID-19, the minister noted, Mr. Hatzipantelas said during a press conference held by the ministry on the subject, while also assuring that «as the Ministry of Health, We are constantly keeping a close eye on new vaccines as well as new treatments for COVID-19 »and we are actively participating in all collaborative efforts to ensure that new vaccines and medications against COVID-19 are made available as soon as possible.".
For her part, the deputy director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Cypriot Ministry of Health, Dr. Elena Panagiotopoulou, presented data on Molnupiravir, noting that although it is still in licensing process, has received a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency as part of distribution on an emergency basis, given the protection it appeared to offer based on the clinical trials that have been conducted.
Specifically, Molnupiravir was shown to reduce the risk of severe illness or death in people infected with COVID-19, from 14.1% in those who received a placebo to 7.3% in those who received Molnupiravir, out of a total group of 775 participants.
