Molnupiravir likely to be active vs. Omicron variant —expert

Experimental COVID-19 medication molnupiravir is likely to be active against the new coronavirus variant Omicron, a clinical investigator from the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City said Thursday.

Dr. Joel Santiaguel, clinical investigator of the QMMC, said that based on the third phase of the global study to determine molnupiravir's effects, it demonstrated a consistent efficacy against other variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

“Based on molnupiravir’s unique mechanism of action and the genomic evidence available on the newly identified variant, Omicron variant, we believe pill will likely be active against this emerging variant,” Santiaguel said.

He, however, noted that specific studies evaluating the pill against the new variant have not yet been conducted.

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral drug shown to prevent mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 from progressing into severe disease that needs hospitalization.

During the clinical trials, the anti-COVID medication, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 50% when given as a five-day treatment regimen in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Santiaguel explained that molnupiravir is active against other variants as it worked inside the core of the virus.

“Doon sa core or inner mechanism nagwo-work yung molnupiravir and not doon sa surface or superficial na spike protein niya. So kahit magka-variation ng mutation at changes doon sa spike protein, active pa rin yung molnupiravir mo against the virus,” he said.

(Molnupiravir works at the core or inner mechanism and not at the surface or superficial spike protein. Even if there are variations of mutations and changes in the spike protein, the pill is still active against the virus.)

Meanwhile, the Philippines is aiming to include at least 30 patients from the QMMC and the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) in the third phase of the global study to determine the pill's effects.

Santiaguel said that the study will enroll participants who are 18-years-old and above, unvaccinated against COVID-19, currently residing in the same household with a COVID-19 patient, has at least one symptom of COVID-19, and has not had those signs and symptoms for more than five days.

The clinical investigator, however, admitted they are having a hard time recruiting eligible participants for the study.

He said they are are eyeing to recruit eligible participants in nearby provinces for the study trials.

Individuals who wish to participate and would like to refer patients may call or text the AHMC at 0968 558 3091 or 0927 007 6602; or the QMMC at 0917-841-3314.

Santiaguel said the target population of the global study is at least 1,332 patients.

Last November, Britain became the first country to approve the pill to treat patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19.

Earlier, the European Medicines Agency said it had started a review on molnupiravir, raising hopes for an easy-to-administer treatment to reduce serious or deadly cases of COVID-19.

The move, which could eventually lead to authorization in the European market, came two weeks after Merck applied for emergency use authorization for the anti-COVID medication in the United States. —LBG, GMA News