A World Health Organisation (WHO) panel has backed the use of Merck & Co Inc's Covid-19 antiviral pill for high-risk patients, Reuters reports.

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 new data from six clinical trials involving 4,796 patients. The WHO panel said it was also preparing recommendations for Pfizer Inc's rival Covid-19 antiviral pill, Paxlovid. The recommendations from the WHO's Guideline Development Group are aimed at helping doctors provide the best care for patients in fast-moving situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic.