The Merck laboratory published, Friday, October 1, 2021, an encouraging report about its antiviral pill, disclosed in France by the LCI channel.
It would be a small pharmaceutical revolution at the heart of this long health crisis. On Friday October 1, the American laboratory Merck made a hopeful announcement, relayed by LCI. As the Covid-19 vaccines prepare to celebrate their one year on the market, an oral treatment is being prepared by the company in collaboration with the biotechnology company Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. This pill in the form of a pill would reduce the risk of hospitalization by 50% and drastically reduce the risk of death after contracting the virus. The results of the experiments carried out with this antiviral, molnupiravir of its small scientific name, would be promising.
The Merck laboratory observed in perspective two groups of people hospitalized. The first consisted of patients to whom the antiviral was administered during phase 3 clinical trials. The control group did not receive molnupiravir but received a placebo. In total, there are 775 participants and patients at risk, suffering from a form “slight” Where “moderate“of the coronavirus, which lent themselves to the test. The French health portal, MSD, reported that”7.3% of patients who received molnupiravir were hospitalized compared to 14.1% of patients treated with placebo“, a month later. The study mentioned that no death was to be deplored on day 29 in the group treated with the antiviral but eight deaths were confirmed on the side of the control group.
On sale soon ?
These results “positive“give hope for an imminent release on the market. Merck and Ridgbeback Biotherapeutics are reportedly considering filing an application with the health security agency. Molnupiravir could, therefore, become the first antiviral pill of this type used in the fight against this virus.