What is Molnupiravir, how does it work, and what does the data say? I teamed up with @sciencewhizliz to summarize what we know today!
Yesterday Merck announced (by Press Release) that data from their Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial evaluating the COVID-19 antiviral, Molnupiravir, showed great promise. In fact, data from the study showed it reduced the chance of hospitalization or death by about 50% (7.3% in treatment group vs. 14.1% in placebo group). Phase 2 data (pre-print) looked at infectious virus over time as it relates to dose and found a very strong relationship (less virus with increased dose). No significant adverse events have been observed and all 8 deaths in the study were in the placebo group.
Molnupiravir works by causing severe viral genome mutagenesis during replication. It mimics one of the 4 building blocks of RNA and replaces it so readily that the viral genome is mutated beyond repair. An added benefit is that it is so potent it can be delivered orally (as opposed to remdesivir with is giving intravenously).
Importantly, Molnupiravir is not the same thing as Remdesivir and is even more different (in both structure and mechanism) than Ivermectin. Anything that tries to assert these are similar is misinformed.
Finally, while this is incredibly valuable as a treatment (if data holds and FDA approves), it does not replace the need for vaccines. Prevention of a transmissible disease is more important than treatment.
Fun fact: it was named after Thor’s Hammer (Mjollnir)!