Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) has reported positive results from its Phase 2a study to assess the safety of Molnupiravir. MRK is developing Molnupiravir jointly with Ridgeback Bio. The study has shown that the drug of the firm has demonstrated a reduction in virus infection among the volunteers suffering from COVID-19.
Merck is striving to emphasize therapeutics after its two COVID-19 vaccines remained unsuccessful to create anticipated immune responses. Shares of Merck went up 1.33% at $73.13 during the trading session of Friday. The U.S. Phase 2a study registered 202 adults who had experienced the symptoms of COVID-19 within 7 days and has active SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Furthermore, 4 serious events which were encountered in the study were not related to the drugs. Additionally, Merck has carried out a complete nonclinical program to illustrate the safety profile of Molnupiravir. The firm has reported the data from the study during Science SpotlightsTM at the 2021 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2021).
The firm is planning to assess its drug further and will continue the Phase 2/3 clinical programs assessing Molnupiravir in both outpatient and hospital settings and is planning to offer data when necessary. The decrease of the infection in a patient with COVID-19 is more encouraging and the secondary objective of the study has been fulfilled now.