Merck is new COVID-19 The pill known as molnupiravir, headed for FDA review for emergency approval, could potentially cause serious safety concerns due to the method used to kill the virus, scientists warned, according to a report.
The oral antiviral medication integrates into the genetic makeup of the virus, causing a large number of mutations to destroy the virus. However, some lab tests pointed to the drug’s ability to cause mutations in the genetic material of mammalian cells, theoretically causing cancer or birth defects, Barron’s reported.
However, a Merck spokesperson told Fox News that animal studies indicate otherwise: “The aggregate of the data from these studies indicates that molnupiravir is not mutagenic or genotoxic in in vivo mammalian systems,” a partial statement reads.
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dr. Raymond Schinazi, professor of pediatrics and director of the division of biochemical pharmacology at Emory University School of Medicine, warned about NHC, the compound molnupiravir changes into after it’s taken. He advised caution in widespread use until more data is available, because of the potential harm to young people of childbearing age or to pregnant women. The Merck trial currently excluded pregnant women.
An interim analysis released last week that emerged from the global MOVe-OUT Phase 3 trial indicated that the investigational antiviral drug reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by nearly 50% compared to placebo for adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
Only 7.3% of patients who received the experimental drug were hospitalized or subsequently died, compared with 14.1% of patients randomized to receive placebo on Day 29 of the study. study.
Each patient had at least one risk factor for poor outcome and symptoms within five days of the start of the study. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the oral medication could reduce hospitalization or death.