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What changes if we can treat Covid with a tablet?

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Treat Covid with a tablet. Everyone’s dream could come true soon. The two pharmaceutical giants Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced last Friday the first results of a study showing that Molnupiravir is able to halve the risk of ending up in hospital or dying from Covid 19. It is an experimental oral antiviral drug.

Treating Covid with a tablet: many experts have spoken of exceptional data

Not all of the research data has yet been released, it has not been published in any scientific journal, nor has it undergone an independent review process. However, the two companies revealed the results. According to their researchers, of the 385 patients involved who took Molnupiravir, 7.3% had to go to a hospital or lost their lives. In the group of patients who took a placebo, the figure was almost double, 14.1 percent. Now the documentation will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval. If the American Medicines Agency gives the green light, we will have the first oral antiviral treatment to combat Covid-19.

How does Molnupivar work?

This drug acts as an antimicrobial. It basically prevents the virus from replicating. There are already antivirals on the market, such as those to fight Herpes, HIV and the flu. Molnupiravir modifies the SARS-CoV-2 virus, preventing it from replicating. In other words, it comes
embedded in the genetic material of the virus and introduces errors. These mistakes make it much harder for the coronavirus to replicate.
Another antiviral, remdesivir, is currently the only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of Covid-19. However, Remdesivir is administered by intravenous infusion. The new drug is instead a pill to swallow. The difference is huge.

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Differences between Remdesivir and Molnupiravir

Incidentally, Remdesivir does not work for all Covid-19 patients. Studies have shown mixed results. It doesn’t seem to reduce the risk of death, but it can help you feel better faster when given early in the disease.
The guidelines for the treatment of Covid-19 of the National Institutes of Health recommend Remdesivir for hospitalized Covid-19 patients who need supplemental oxygen. However, the World Health Organization recommends not using it outside of clinical trials.

Treating Covid with a tablet: what could change?

There are also monoclonal antibodies which appear to be quite effective. The problem is that they require an infusion or injections. It is an important therapy both for the person undergoing it and for the health system. A pill as a cure would be a gigantic turnaround, because you can safely take it at home.

However, experts argue that an antiviral cannot replace the vaccine anyway. It should be seen as an additional tool and not the solution to the pandemic. The vaccine remains the most powerful weapon to stop the pandemic.

Further investigation is needed, but hopefully it can also prevent infection in some way

Molnupiravir is also being studied as a post-exposure prophylaxis. Researchers are figuring out whether it can prevent the virus from spreading within families after someone has been exposed, but it hasn’t tested positive yet.

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