The development of Merck & Co’s oral medication to treat COVID-19 could make it the first pill that people can pop the moment they become infected. We speak to Assoc Prof Dr Sharifah Faridah Syed Omar, Infectious Disease Physician, University Malaya Medical Centre, about how the antiviral drug molnupiravir works, and how it could change the way COVID-19 is managed.

Listen to Part 2 here, where we explore whether we can afford molnupiravir and the questions of accessing the drug.