Merck and its partner on Monday announced they filed an emergency use authorization application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their oral antiviral medicine for the treatment of COVID-19. The pill is meant to combat cases of mild or moderate COVID-19. Merck said last week that an interim analysis of its phase 3 trial studying the drug showed it was effective in cutting the risk of hospitalization, a key measure in COVID-19 treatments. The antiviral, molnupiravir, cut the risk of hospitalization or death in half for adults who were deemed at risk but not hospitalized, according to a summary Merck released. The results were touted by the companies and a number of experts, including former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. “This is a phenomenal result. I mean, this is a profound game changer, to have an oral pill that had this kind of effect, this magnitude of effect in …