According to CBS 12 in Providence, Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental COVID-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the Coronavirus and plans to have health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize it. If cleared, Merck’s drug would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All COVID-19 therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection. Health experts including the top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has long called for a convenient pill that patients could take when COVID-19 symptoms first appear, much like how the medication Tamiflu helps fight Influenza.

The U.S. Government has committed to purchase 1.7 million doses of the drug if it is authorized by the FDA. Merck has said it can produce 10 million doses by the end of the year and has contracts with governments worldwide. The company has not announced prices.

Several other companies, including Pfizer, are studying similar drugs that could report results in the coming weeks and months.