Molnupiravir Inhibits Replication of the Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in a Hamster Infection Model

Abdelnabi et al., The Journal of Infectious Diseases, doi:10.1093/infdis/jiab361

Jul 2021

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Hamster study showing molnupiravir effective against the original, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351 variants.

Potential risks of molnupiravir include the creation of dangerous variants, and mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and embryotoxicity1-14. Multiple analyses have identified variants potentially created by molnupiravir15-19.

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Abdelnabi et al., 9 Jul 2021, peer-reviewed, 6 authors.

This Paper Molnupiravir All

DOI record: { "DOI": "10.1093/infdis/jiab361", "ISSN": [ "0022-1899", "1537-6613" ], "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab361", "abstract": "AbstractThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) has exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently available monoclonal antibodies and vaccines appear to have reduced efficacy against some of these VoCs. Antivirals targeting conserved proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are unlikely to be affected by mutations arising in VoCs and should therefore be effective against emerging variants. We here investigate the efficacy of molnupiravir, currently in phase 2 clinical trials, in hamsters infected with Wuhan strain or B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants. Molnupiravir proved to be effective against infections with each of the variants and therefore may have potential combating current and future emerging VoCs.", "author": [ { "affiliation": [ { "name": "Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium" } ], "family": "Abdelnabi", "given": "Rana", "sequence": "first" }, { "affiliation": [ { "name": "Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium" } ], "family": "Foo", "given": "Caroline S", "sequence": "additional" }, { "affiliation": [ { "name": "Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium" } ], "family": "De Jonghe", "given": 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