First oral and direct-acting antiviral Molnupiravir is an experimental antiviral drug that is orally active and was originally developed for the treatment of influenza. Merck, known as MSD, developed molnupiravir in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The drug is now being evaluated in Phase III clinical trial, the MOVe-OUT study, to treat non-hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.
Preclinical studies have revealed broad-spectrum antiviral activity of molnupiravir against several coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. In humanized mouse models, the use of molnupiravir as both a treatment and prophylaxis was found to reduce viral replication and pathogenesis.
The current study was based on the results of a Phase IIa trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir when used to treat COVID-19.
