A recent study has revealed that a five-day course of Molnupiravir could reduce deaths and prove effective and safe at relatively lower costs, in adults and non-pregnant COVID-19 unvaccinated patients at increased risk of severity or needing hospitalisation.

The study was conceived by Dr Anoop Misra, Padma Shri, Executive Chairman and Director, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Fortis C-DOC and conducted jointly by GD Hospital & Diabetes Institute, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes & Allied Sciences, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation and Diabetes Foundation. Published in the journal, Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, the final results of the study revealed that usage of the drug showed a significant reduction in composite risk of hospitalization or death.

The study objective was to update the recently conducted review of Molnupiravir and to provide practical tips and guidelines for using the drug for COVID-19 patients by raising a few relevant, contemporary questions. Additionally, the evaluation of the effectiveness of Molnupiravir compared to other drugs having emergency use authorization for COVID-19 was also done.

The methodology followed was to assess the efficacy and safety of Molnupiravir by studying published results of the phase 3 randomised study in 1433 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Additional data available in the public domain between October 15, 2021 and January 5, 2022 and prescribing information of the drug and data presented at the FDA AMDAC meeting held on November 30, 2021, was also accessed, while conducting the study.