Covid breakthrough as new wonderdrug reduces hospitalisation and death by 50% in study

Coronavirus: Half of current cases 'unrecognised' says expert

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Known as molnupiravir, the antiviral wonderdrug was created by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) alongside Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

They have announced today that it significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death during a Phase 3 trial of adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Following randomised trials, 7.3 percent of patients who received molnupiravir were either hospitalised or died after 29 days.

That compared with 14.1 percent of placebo-treated patients.

The study is being stopped early due to the exceedingly positive results.

The companies will now submit an application for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) under the FDA as soon as possible.

Robert M. Davis, chief executive officer and president of MSD, also known as Merck, said: “More tools and treatments are urgently needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become a leading cause of death and continues to profoundly affect patients, families, and societies and strain health care systems all around the world.

“With these compelling results, we are optimistic that molnupiravir can become an important medicine as part of the global effort to fight the pandemic and will add to Merck’s unique legacy of bringing forward breakthroughs in infectious diseases when they are needed most.

“Consistent with Merck’s unwavering commitment to save and improve lives, we will continue to work with regulatory agencies on our applications and do everything we can to bring molnupiravir to patients as quickly as possible.

“On behalf of all of us at Merck, I thank our network of clinical investigators and patients for their essential contributions to the development of molnupiravir.”

Wendy Holman, chief executive officer of Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, added: “With the virus continuing to circulate widely, and because therapeutic options currently available are infused and/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 authorised for use, can make a profound impact in controlling the pandemic. Our partnership with Merck is critical to ensuring rapid global access if this medicine is approved, and we appreciate the collaborative effort to reach this important stage of development.”

Molnupiravir is an investigational, orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19.

It has been shown to be active in several preclinical models of SARS-CoV-2, including for prophylaxis, treatment, and prevention of transmission.

Additionally, pre-clinical and clinical data have shown molnupiravir to be active against the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants.

It comes after the UK recorded 36,480 new infections and 137 Covid deaths on Thursday.

Britain’s current Covid infection rate is by far the highest in western Europe, latest research has revealed.

There have been a total of 136,662 Covid related deaths in the country.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 161,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

But vaccinations remain an incredible success in the UK with a total of 93,696,491 Covid jabs rolled out across the country.

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