(Reuters) – U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co Inc said Saturday that the experimental antiviral drug molnupiravir it develops with Ridgeback Bio showed a more rapid reduction in infectious virus in its phase 2a study among participants with COVID-19 early.
“The results of a secondary target in this study, of a more rapid reduction in infectious virus among people with COVID-19 early treatment with molnupiravir, are promising,” said William Fischer, Associate Professor of Medicine at the School of Medicine University of North Carolina, in a statement from the companies.
The antiviral is currently being tested in a Phase 2/3 trial which is due to be completed in May.
Merck decided to focus on pharmacotherapy after his two COVID-19 vaccines generated much-needed immune responses, forcing him to discontinue the program in January.
Reporting by Ann Maria Shibu in Bengaluru; Edited by Christian Schmollinger