Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics Provide Update on Progress of Clinical Development Program for Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Therapeutic for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19
, News Release, NCT04575584, Apr 2021
News release reporting that the trial of molnupiravir with hospitalized patients (NCT04575584 (history)) has been discontinued because data indicates it is unlikely to demonstrate a clinical benefit in hospitalized patients. Results are not available yet. Interim results for the trial with outpatients show positive dose-dependent results for viral clearance.
Potential risks of molnupiravir include the creation of dangerous variants, and mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and embryotoxicity1-15. Multiple analyses have identified variants potentially created by molnupiravir16-20.
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Fountain-Jones et al., Effect of molnupiravir on SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised patients: a retrospective observational study, The Lancet Microbe, doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00393-2.
Merck et al., 15 Apr 2021, preprint, 1 author, trial NCT04575584 (history).
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