The shortage of Paxlovid at pharmacies is expected to be partially resolved with the government's emergency approval of Merck (MDS)’s oral COVID-19 treatment ‘molnupiravir.’

On the 18th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters had announced that 88,276 courses of Paxlovid remain in stock in Korea. Also, with the grant of RAT(rapid antigen test)-based confirmation of COVID-19, the average daily prescription of Paxlovid increased over twofold from 2,404 in the second week to 5,184 in the third week of this month.

With more than 300,000 new confirmed cases occurring steadily, the domestic inventory of Paxlovid is expected to be exhausted by the end of this month. The government is plann