PARIS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - France has ordered 50,000 doses of Merck & Co"s (MRK.N) experimental COVID-19 antiviral drug for adults, the country"s health minister Olivier Veran told a hearing at the French Senate on Tuesday. "France positioned itself very early in pre-ordering. France ordered 50,000 doses of the drug," Veran told lawmakers about molnupiravir, which is Merck & Co"s experimental antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 ailments. Governments around the world are preparing to ensure they can cope any pick-up in the COVID virus as the winter season approaches in the northern hemisphere. Merck & Co said on Monday that the European Union"s drug regulator had initiated a real-time review of its experimental COVID antiviral drug for adults. read moreWhile vaccines are the main weapons against COVID-19, Merck"s experimental pill molnupiravir could be a game-changer after studies showed it could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of contracting severe illness.