KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's Health Ministry said on Tuesday (Dec 14) it has given conditional approval for the use of the single-dose antibody cocktail Ronapreve, developed by Regeneron and Roche, to treat Covid-19.

It has also approved a request from Merck & Co for a clinical trial import licence for its Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir, to be used as part of studies being conducted in Malaysia, the ministry said in a statement.

"Ronapreve is indicated for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older and weighing at least 40kg who do not require supplemental oxygen for Covid-19 and who are at increased risk of progressing to severe Covid-19," said health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah in the statement.

He said the decision on using the drug was made at the 37th Drug Control Authority meeting on Monday.