[Press release – not published yet] Merck’s new Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir updated data shows reduced efficacy (30%) for preventing hospitalization and death compared to initial results (50%). Absolute risk reduction of hospitalization and death fell from 7% to 3%.

News Release: Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics Provide Update on Results from MOVe-OUT Study of Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Antiviral Medicine, in At Risk Adults With Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

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[Press release – not published yet] Merck announces oral antiviral Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50 Percent compared to placebo for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.

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Commentaries on Twitter

Disappointing!!
?Merck Provides Update on Results from MOVe-OUT Study of Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Antiviral Medicine, in At Risk Adults With Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19
N=1433
RRR fell from 50% to 30%
Absolute Risk reduction only 3% #IDTwitter https://t.co/aX2b3xrdnB pic.twitter.com/uXUSQRNWC7

— Antibiotic Stewa®️x? Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) November 26, 2021

Disappointing from Merck. Updated data for efficacy of their Molnupiravir pill in full trial drops down to 30% from 50%, absolute reduction to 3 from 7 per 100 at interim analysis https://t.co/PyfIBnFNC7 pic.twitter.com/SBDL92aG5M

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) November 26, 2021