An antiviral drug available in Australia can eliminate ‘actively infectious’ Covid-19 from the body after as little as two days of treatment and may be effective against all variants.
All participants taking 800mg a day of Molnupiravir capsules (sold under the brand name Lagevrio) in a European research trial showed no sign of the virus on day three of ‘starting’ treatment.
Prior to treatment the patients had all tested positive in PCR tests.
So far it is available for limited use in Australia.
An antiviral drug available in Australia can eliminate Covid-19 from the body after as little as two days of treatment and may be effective against all variants
All participants taking 800mg a day of Molnupiravir capsules (sold under the brand name Lagevrio) in a European research trial showed no sign of the virus on day three of ‘starting’ treatment
The positive news comes as Omicron BA.2 cases surge in Australia, with 20,389 recorded in New South Wales, 9,149 in Victoria and 9,435 in Queensland on Saturday.
New infections have continued to climb since mid-February and new daily cases averaged over 56,000 across Australia in the last week of March.
‘Results demonstrated that on day three of treatment, infectious SARS-CoV-2 was detected in zero of 92 of participants with infectious virus at baseline who received molnupiravir, compared with 21.8 per cent of participants who received placebo,’ the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases reported on April 1.
The study was conducted by scientists employed by the drug’s manufacturer, Merck & Co, including Dr Julie Strizki.
The company announced in January that Molnupiravir was effective against Omicron BA.2 in lab trials, not long after there was concern unrelated antiviral drugs were not effective against the now-dominant strain.
Merck said Molnupiravir showed ‘broad activity’ against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern.
The drug’s effectiveness is noted as being reliant on the patient taking it within five days of symptoms showing.
According to Australia’s Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA), Molnupiravir is marketed under the product name Lagevrio, in 200mg capsules, by Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia).
Molnupiravir is not designed for patients with severe Covid, such as those on ventilation for the illness
According to PBS consumer information the recommended dosage is four capsules every 12 hours for five days.
Side effects are considered ‘minor and temporary’ but can include ‘diarrhoea, nausea, and dizziness’.
It was approved on January 20 and added to Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on March 1 – but only for people aged over 65, or over 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander people.
The drug was approved on A PBS listing for Lagevrio meaning eligible patients can access this medicine from their local community pharmacy on a prescription from their doctor.
Vaccines remain ‘the best protection’ against COVID, according to government information in most cases.
