Molnupiravir: From Hope to Epic Fail?

Molnupiravir has been the first oral antiviral authorized for COVID-19 outpatients, reporting extraordinary sales and preserved in vitro efficacy against Omicron sublineages so far. However, it has recently been associated with very poor clinical efficacy, the risk of creating novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and long-term risk for mutagenicity in humans. The latter two are severe concerns, especially in the indicated population, i.e., long-replicating, immunodeficient patients. We conclude that, at this point, alternative antivirals should be preferred over molnupiravir.

Automated summary

Molnupiravir, the first authorized oral antiviral for COVID-19 outpatients, has shown poor clinical efficacy and risks of generating new variants of concern and long-term mutagenicity in immunodeficient patients. Alternative antivirals should be preferred over Molnupiravir at this point.