What is Molnupiravir, new oral drug that can block COVID-19 transmission within 24 hours?

Team Udayavani, Dec 11, 2020, 12:16 PM IST

A new drug named Molnupiravir has come to light to fight Covid-19. A study by researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, has found antiviral drug Molnupiravir (MK-4482/EIDD-2801) could be a game-changer in a fight against the coronavirus.

Molnupiravir, is an anti-viral drug, taken orally. It is being developed by the biotechnology firm Ridgeback Biotherapeutics as a team with drug firm Merck. The drug has shown positive results in hindering the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

The drug was discovered by the research team led by Dr. Richard Plemper, Professor at Georgia State University.  The drug is being developed by the US-based biotechnology firm Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in collaboration with pharmaceutical firm Merck.

According to India today, In the study published in Nature Microbiology, Plemper’s team repurposed Molnupiravir against COVID-19 and used a ferret model to test the effect of the drug on containing the spread of the virus.

According to the research team, since the drug can be taken orally, the treatment can be started early enough to stop a patient’s progress to severe disease. It can also help patients recover more quickly.

In the absence of a vaccine, such drugs can help break the chain of transmission.