Is the first tablet from Covid-19 ready? Results to experience “inspiring”
- Jim Reed
- health correspondent
Photo author, Merck
The monipulator introduces the first antiviral drugs against Covid-19 in the form of tablets, the results of which
The risk of hospitalization or death in patients with coronavirus may halve the number of pills taken – these are intermediate results of a trial of an experimental drug called molnupiravir.
During the line check twice a day to evaluate visits to Covid-19.
The American drug company Merck announced that the studies were only available for publication, that external observations had tried to complete the test earlier.
In the next two weeks, the developers, who will be documented by the US regulator, plan to use the tablets in emergency data.
Dr Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, said the results were “very good news”. At the same time, he urged to be careful with the findings, to throw out the developers not to check the US Food and Drug Administration.
The first oral drug against coronavirus
If the regulator also tries to develop Merck, the monitor will be the first antiviral drug against Covid-19 that can be taken in tablets.
These drugs were originally developed to treat the game. The principle of their action – makes changes in the genetic code of the virus, or stops its expansion in accordance.
Photo author, Handout
The monipulator is designed to prevent hospitalization and mixing via Covid-19
Based on data from 775 users who participated in the study and took molnupiravir, it was found that:
- 7.3% of visitors were hospitalized,
- with placebo requests, 14.1% were hospitalized,
- among those taking experimental drugs, no one died,
- with placebo requests, two died.
Prices were published in previous companies and left what was not confirmed by independent reviews.
In contrast to the action of the coronavirus vaccine, which attacks its protein thorns, experimental tablets are valued in enzymes that require the virus to reproduce.
Merck argues that the pills will be just as effective against new strains of coronavirus that may appear in the future.
“The emergence of new drugs for the unvaccinated or those who do not have an immune response to the supplement is very important to end the pandemic,” said Daria Hazuda, vice president of Merck.
The results of the study suggest that molnupiravir should be taken at early symptoms for the effect of the drug to be strongest. In this preliminary study, it was decided to prescribe medication to patients who had already been hospitalized due to little published results.
Approval in the world
Merck was the first company to test coronavirus tablets. However, other pharmaceutical companies are also working on similar developers.
For example, the study of the same American Pfizer has already completed the stage. And they are going to even about two drugs.
Swiss Roche is also working on coronavirus pills.
Merck says it is ready to produce 10 million courses of molnupiravir by the end of 2021. And when the United States withdrew these drugs for purchase – if it approves the Food and Drug Administration – $ 1.2 billion.
They also ask that they discuss the possibility of reviewing drugs to other countries, as well as suggest negotiations on manufacturers of generics, or drugs could be involved in neighboring countries.
“A safe, affordable, and effective oral antiviral agent would be extremely effective in combating Covid,” said Professor Peter Gorby of Oxford University, who was not involved in the study. tried to do so “Many drugs are being updated at this stage, and the intermediate results of these tests are inspiring.”
