A World Health Organization (WHO) panel on Wednesday backed the use of Merck & Co Inc's Covid-19 antiviral pill for high-risk patients.

The expert panel conditionally recommended the pill, molnupiravir, for patients with non-severe disease who are at high risk of hospitalisation, such as the immunocompromised, the unvaccinated, older people, and those with chronic diseases.

The recommendation was based on...