An interim analysis of the phase II/III MOVe-OUT trial of molnupiravir revealed considerable benefit with a 5-day course of drug, initiated within 5 days of onset of symptoms in ambulatory, high-risk, unvaccinated adults, reported researchers in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Hospitalization for any cause and death through day 29 were reduced to around half in comparison with placebo (7.3% vs. 14.1%, P=0.001) in the first half of patients randomized, with a 6.8 percentage point advantage. However, this declined to 3.0 percentage points (6.8% molnupiravir vs. 9.7% placebo, P=0.001) in the analysis of all the 1,433 participants randomized before the trial was terminated early for efficacy.

A subgroup analysis of the trial did not favor the drug for patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, those who had low baseline viral load, and people with diabetes… (Medpage Today)