UK Study Shows Merck's COVID-19 Antiviral Pill Did Not Cut Hospitalization Risk

Merck & Co Inc MRK and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced data from two real-world evidence studies evaluating Lagevrio (molnupiravir), an investigational oral antiviral COVID-19 medicine.
According to the results of a pivotal clinical trial in the U.K., Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill failed to show it can lower the risks of hospitalization and death among adults at higher risk from the disease.
Preliminary results from a trial of more than 25,000 people show that taking molnupiravir can accelerate a patient’s time to recovery. But the drug showed no benefit compared to taking a placebo in reducing hospitalizations.
An analysis of real-world data from a separate study dubbed the Clalit study, conducted in Israel, showed that in a cohort of non-hospitalized, high-risk patients, molnupiravir reduced hospitalizations and mortality due to COVID-19 in patients 65 years and above.
No benefit was found in younger adults ages 40 to 64 years.
Additional data from the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial showed that a lower proportion of molnupiravir-treated participants in the modified intent-to-treat population had an acute care visit or a COVID-19-related acute care visit versus a placebo.
Price Action: MRK shares closed lower by 1.07% at $87.44 on Thursday.