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  • 05/11/2022
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Molnupiravir vs. COVID-19: Has it lived up to the early hype?

In the search for effective COVID-19 treatments, many drugs failed to live up to their early promise. The antiviral molnupiravir performed well in trials, reducing hospitalizations and deaths among those at high risk. Medical News Today has revisited the evidence and looked at new findings to see whether molnupiravir has realized its potential.

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Molnupiravir vs. COVID-19: Has it lived up to the early hype?

In October 2021, a global trial investigated an experimental viral drug called molnupiravir, which is branded Lagevrio outside the United States.

The research was led by the pharmaceutical company Merck — known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada — and Ridgeback Therapeutics.

The scientists found that the drug reduced the risk of hospital admission or death from COVID-19 by approximately 50%.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now conditionally recommended its use for some people with COVID-19 who have the highest risk of hospital admission.