Mercks COVID-19 pill is effective against Omicron in lab studies

January 29, 2022:

Merck & Co Inc and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said on Friday that six laboratory studies showed that the experimental oral COVID-19 drug molnupiravir was effective against the rapidly spreading oculomicrons.

The data evaluated the antiviral activity of molnupiravir and other COVID-19 antiviral agents against the COVID-19 variant of concern. Molnupiravir has not yet been studied against Omicron in human studies, the two companies said.

Molnupiravir and Pfizer’s rival oral tablets were approved in the United States in December and are considered an important tool for Omicron.

Pfizer said in December that lab data suggests that the drug, Paxrovid, retains its efficacy against Omicron.

Earlier this month, Merck said the pill had a mechanism that worked against Omicrons and all other varieties.

Molnupiravir is licensed for use in more than 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Japan.

(Report by Manojna Maddipatla in Bangalore, edited by Shinjini Ganguli and Shounak Dasgupta)

ET Health