The pandemic has entered yet another phase, with the Omicron variant wreaking havoc across the globe. The high infection rate of this new cause for concern, in India, has also triggered a ‘war of medical opinions’ between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). Pharma majors are churning out viable treatment options at a feverish pace, in a bid to become the most widely accepted drug listed in COVID-19 treatment protocols. Merck’s Molnupiravir is one such drug that is embroiled in a ‘safety vs efficacy’ contest. Let’s investigate further.