Is there an edible corona cure? Cuts the chance of hospitalization in half

The multinational pharmaceutical company Merck announced on the 1st that ‘molnupiravir’, a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) treatment jointly developed with US biotechnology company Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, has reduced the probability of hospitalization and death from Corona 19 by half. local time). According to Bloomberg, Merck plans to apply for emergency use approval for an edible COVID-19 treatment to health authorities in major countries, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on the results. This is the first time that an oral treatment for COVID-19 has applied for emergency use approval from the FDA.

According to the interim results of the phase 3 clinical trial published by Merck, among non-hospitalized patients with mild COVID-19 infection, the probability of hospitalization and death among non-hospitalized patients who took molnupiravir was 7.3% (28 out of 385). The probability of hospitalization and death (14.1%, 53 out of 377) was about 50% lower than that of patients not taking piravir.

In particular, there were no deaths in the group taking molnupiravir. On the other hand, there were eight deaths in the placebo group. According to the recommendation of an independent committee in cooperation with the FDA, Merck announced that it would end the clinical trial that was originally scheduled to be completed in November and apply for emergency use authorization.

According to Bloomberg, if molnupiravir, which does not require complicated injections, gets FDA approval, it is expected to reduce the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and ease the burden on medical systems in each country. Merck also announced on the 29th of last month that “molnupiravir is effective in preventing major COVID-19 mutant viruses such as delta mutations.” Oral drugs also have the advantage of improving the accessibility of corona treatment. Rovers Shaffer, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford University, told The New York Times (NYT), “Eating treatment could save the lives of people in countries or environments where antibody treatment is difficult.” Reporter Bom Lim, reporter bom@donga.com Go to page>