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They’ve been described as a potential “game changer” in the fight against COVID-19 – antiviral drugs that could protect people from developing serious illness once they’ve caught the virus.

On Friday, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer claimed its new drug reduced the chance of hospitalisation and death by 89 per cent.

Meanwhile, rival pharma giant Merck claims its antiviral reduces hospitalisations and deaths by half.

If they are approved for use, antivirals in tablet form could be given to patients as soon as they develop symptoms.

Today on Please Explain, national science reporter Liam Mannix joins Bianca Hall to discuss two new drugs that could dramatically reduce hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19.

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