25/10/2021
states experimental oral antiviral drug Molnupiravir might reduce the risk of COVID death or hospitalization by 50%. CNN shows “7.3% of 385 patients who received the antiviral were either hospitalized or died from Covid-19, compared with 14.1% of the 377 patients who received a placebo.” CNN states that although the complete data from their trials are unpublished and have not been peer-reviewed, Mercks has requested FDA approval. CNN compares Merck’s Molnupiravir with Veklury (Remdesivir), a drug made by Gilead Sciences approved by the FDA. Veklury is administered by an IV, “so it's not as simple as swallowing a pill.” CNN states they are looking for three outcomes from producing Molnupiravir: stop the progression of the disease, stop symptomatic disease, and for the drug to serve as prevention.
Fox states Merck’s has suspended their recruitment for the study, “given the positive findings.” According to Fox, “over 90% of the targeted sample size already reached,” suggesting there will be no more trials for for further research. Fox states the study was “halted early” was because of consultation with the FDA and an independent data monitoring committee. Fox implies the research is close to finalizing and ready for mass production, contradicting CNN, which states, “there’s still a lot to learn about the drug and who it might work for.” Fox states, after five days, zero patients treated with Molnupiravir tested positive for COVID, “while 24% of placebo patients did.”
Barrons reports on Merck’s antiviral and how it could potentially change the course of the . Barrons states Molnupiravir “have the potential to play an enormous role” and is “likely to be in enormous demand globally.” Barrons suggests the antiviral drug will be more accessible to lower-income countries that do not have access to the and acceptable to those at odds with the vaccines. Barrons states Merck’s “decided not to proceed with a study of Molnupiravir in hospitalized patients after disappointing early results.” Barrons statement of decisions conflicts with Fox, which states the study had “positive findings.”