The drug,
which is in capsules, is administered orally and works by inhibiting the
replication of the Coronavirus inside the body.
Molnupiravir
has already undergone phase 3 trials and the result has been outstanding. “Of the patients who received a placebo,14.1% were hospitalized or
died by day 29.” But “No deaths were reported in patients who were given
molnupiravir within the 29-day period”
“All
775 trial participants had laboratory-confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 and were
randomly given Molnupiravir or a placebo within five days of symptoms.
Every
participant was unvaccinated and had at least one underlying factor that put
them at greater risk of developing a more severe case of the virus. The most
common risk factors included obesity, being over age 60 and having diabetes or
heart disease.
The
phase 3 part of the trial was conducted at more than 170 sites in countries,
including the U.S., Brazil, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan and Guatemala.”
Molnupiravir’s
efficacy also proved to be consistent in treating all variants of Covid-19,
including the widely dominant and highly
transmissible delta strain
It
is also being subjected to a separate global phase 3 study to evaluate its
efficacy in preventing the spread of Covid-19 within households.
The
President and CEO of Merck was quite upbeat about the drug and its trials.
“With
these compelling results, we are optimistic that Molnupiravir can become an
important medicine as part of the global efforts to fight the pandemic.”
Ridgeback
Biotherapeutics CEO, Wendy Holman, also shared her optimism, “With the virus continuing to circulate
widely, and because therapeutic options currently available are infused or
require access to a healthcare facility, antiviral treatments that can be taken
at home to keep people with Covid-19 out of the hospital are critically
needed.”
“We
are very encouraged by the results from the interim analysis and hope Molnupiravir,
if authorized for use, can make a profound impact in controlling the pandemic,”
On
the part of the White House, the chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci added
after their briefing, “The news of the efficacy of this particular antiviral is
obviously very good news.”
It
is indeed “good news” for the whole world. It is hoped that Merck secures the
emergency use authorization for the drug as soon as possible. That would
consign Covid-19 into the drawer of most diseases; with a big relief from the
current fear and grip which it has subjected our lives.
Another
cheering side of the news is the fact that we would now have option, to get
vaccinated or not.