Shawdesh Desk:

Merck’s experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, is likely to be effective against known variants of coronavirus, including the predominant and highly contagious delta, laboratory studies The company said on Wednesday.

Molnupiravir does not target the viral peplomer (the target of all current COVID-19 vaccines), thus defining the differences between variants, so the drug is equally effective as the virus continues to evolve. There should be, says Jay Globler, responsible for infectious diseases, diseases and vaccines in Merck.

Instead, molnupiravir targets the virus polymerase, an enzyme that the virus needs to make a copy of itself. It is designed to work by introducing errors into the genetic code of the virus.

Data show that the drug is most effective when given in the early stages of infection.

A US pharmaceutical company tested antivirals on nasal swab samples taken from participants in early drug trials. At the time of these trials, Delta was not widely available, but molnupiravir was tested against laboratory samples of mutants behind the recent surge in hospitalization and mortality with COVID-19.

Merck is conducting two phase III trials of antiviral drugs being developed at Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. One is for the treatment of COVID-19 and the other is as a prophylactic.

Merck expects the first study to end in early November, Globler said. “Data may come sooner or later,” he added.

The study was presented at ID Week, the annual meeting of infectious disease organizations, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Studies show that the COVID-19 pill works against mutants, health news, and ET Healthworld, Merck says.

Source link Studies show that the COVID-19 pill works against mutants, health news, and ET Healthworld, Merck says.