The first COVID-19 patients in Wales have received antiviral tablets to take at home, under a clinical trial of an antiviral specifically for COVID-19, BBC News reported on Thursday.

This study is being led by Oxford University and delivered in Wales by Public Health Wales, Health and Care Research Wales and Cardiff University.

The tablet used in this trial is called molnupiravir, a pill originally developed to treat flu. It was developed by the US pharmaceutical companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) (NYSE:MRK) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

This trial is taking place across the UK. Since it started on 8 December 2021, reportedly about 3,000 people in Wales have taken part. About half of those will have taken the antiviral.

As a part of the trial, the pills will need to be taken twice a day and within five days of symptoms starting.

In Wales, anyone over 50 can take part, or those who are aged 18 to 49 with an underlying health condition, with a positive COVID-19 test (PCR or LFT) with symptoms for fewer than five days can access the trial.