In this regard, the minister expressed thanks to the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) for the efforts it has made to accelerate licensing five domestic companies to manufacture Molnupiravir after passing accurate lab tests that approved the drug for emergency use.

Meanwhile, EDA President Tamer Essam said Molnupiravir has been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for emergency use for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

It reduces the risk of being hospitalized by 50 percent, he added.

Local companies have so far produced 25,000 packs of the drug, he said, noting that the move comes in line with the Egyptian State’s efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19