Molnupiravir

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Molnupiravir or lagevrio (brand name) is a new antiviral drug which has recently undergone clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment,[1] and other uses.[2][3][4]

Theory[edit | edit source]

Molnupiravir was developed specifically to target the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) but proved effective in early trials against COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.[5] Molnupiravir targets the virus by introducing copy errors as it replicates.[6] It breaks down to n-hydroxycytidine (NHC) in the body, and is then metabolised to NHC-TP.[6]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

There is no evidence yet of the use of molnupiravir in patients with ME/CFS.

Clinicians[edit | edit source]

Risks and safety[edit | edit source]

Molnupiravir was approved for emergency use in the United Kingdom for mild or moderate COVID-19 in people with at least one risk factor for severe disease during late 2021.[2][4]

Side effects in adults taking molnupiravir for COVID-19 for the recommended 5 days included diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, and headaches which were either mild or moderate, but this was based on a trial of less than 400 people.[6] Based on drug chemistry, interactions with other drugs are not expected.[6]

Costs and availability[edit | edit source]

Molnupiravir is not yet FDA-approved, although approval is likely in 2022. The European Medicines Agency is conducting a rolling review of molnupiravir for COVID-19 and if had been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.[4][7] Molnupiravir is taken orally.[1][8]

Articles and news[edit | edit source]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mahase, Elisabeth (October 4, 2021). "Covid-19: Molnupiravir reduces risk of hospital admission or death by 50% in patients at risk, MSD reports". BMJ. 375: n2422. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2422. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 34607801.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Molnupiravir". DrugBank. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Molnupiravir FDA Approval Status". Drugs.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "First oral antiviral for COVID-19, Lagevrio (molnupiravir), approved by MHRA". gov.uk. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  5. ↑ Malek, Rory J.; Bill, Colin A.; Vines, Charlotte M. (December 1, 2021). "Clinical drug therapies and biologicals currently used or in clinical trial to treat COVID-19". Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 144: 112276. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112276. ISSN 0753-3322.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Lagevrio 200 mg hard capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)". Electronic Medicines Compendium. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Covid-19: EMA starts rolling review of molnupiravir". European Medicines Agency. 2021.
  8. ↑ "A Pill to Treat COVID Could Be Just Months Away". WebMD. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://me-pedia.org/w/index.php?title=Molnupiravir&oldid=241419"