Pharmac's announced an agreement to buy the Covid-19 antiviral oral drug Molnupiravir. 

The drug buying agency says it will be used to treat New Zealanders with mild to moderate Covid-symptoms.  

But the treatment will first need to gain regulatory approval from Medsafe.  

Chief Executive Sarah Fitt says there's a time frame in mind for when it'll be rolled out. 

"We are probably looking at quarter one next year, becuase obviously they've got to scale up their production and it will also have to go to the regulatory approval." 

The advanced purchase agreement secures an initial supply of 60-thousand courses of the drug. 

LISTEN ABOVE