Published June 6, 2021 9:01pm Oral antiviral drug molnupiravir entered its third phase of clinical trials as a possible treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 at the Lung Center of the Philippines. Developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP and Merck & Co., the drug could be taken as an oral pill by patients who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms and test positive for the disease. At present, two patients are undergoing the trial at the Lung Center of the Philippines, which seeks more volunteers moving forward. The volunteers take the drug twice a day for at least five days. Among those qualified to be included in the trial are symptomatic patients who tested positive within the past five days, aged 18 and above, and have yet to be vaccinated.