Topic: Molnupiravir

An FDA advisory committee voted 13-10 to recommend EUA for Merck's antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, despite concerns over its 34% efficacy and potential risks during pregnancy. The discussion contrasts the approval of this expensive pill with the suppression of cheaper alternatives like ivermectin.

Merck reported a strong fiscal quarter, exceeding expectations by $1 billion, driven by growth in its oncology business and a 68% increase in Gardasil sales. CEO Robert Davis discussed the upcoming launch of Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral pill intended for home use, with an advisory committee meeting scheduled for late November. Merck plans to produce 10 million courses of the drug by the end of the year, with pricing estimated by some analysts at up to $2,000 per course.

Merck announced that its experimental antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, reduced COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths by 50% in clinical trials. The drug's origins are traced back to Emory University research on Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, leading to its nickname "Merc-mectin" due to Merck's simultaneous dismissal of the cheaper Ivermectin. Financial details reveal a U.S. government procurement agreement for 1.7 million courses at a price of $1.2 billion, equating to roughly $700 per treatment.

A new oral antiviral drug called Molnupiravir is being positioned as a "Tamiflu for COVID," with early Phase 2 data showing it clears the virus in five days. Dr. Fauci and other researchers suggest that oral drugs are necessary to suppress the virus, similar to treatments for HIV and Hepatitis C. Critics argue that existing, cheaper alternatives like Ivermectin are being ignored in favor of expensive new pharmaceutical products like "COVID-27" preparations.