Successes in animal experiments: new corona agent slows infections

Monday 07 December 2020

Successes in animal experiments
New corona agent slows infections

From Kai Stoppel

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The drug molnupiravir shows in animal experiments an astonishing effectiveness against Sars-CoV-2: Infected ferrets are no longer contagious after just 24 hours. Researchers hope for a breakthrough in the fight against Covid-19. Clinical studies are already running.

The search for a really powerful drug against Covid-19 continues. Because although the first vaccines are already on the doorstep, the coronavirus is likely to circulate in the population well into the coming year, and possibly even beyond. The drug Remdesivir used so far shows little effect. And Dexamethason has proven to be helpful – but especially for patients who are already seriously ill. Researchers at the university in the US state of Georgia may have now found a means that quickly kills the Sars-CoV-2 virus immediately after an infection.

In animal experiments, the researchers rediscovered Richard Plemper that the new Antiviral drug MK-4482 / EIDD-2801 – also known as molnupiravir – completely suppresses virus transmission within 24 hours, the university announced. The study appeared in Trade journal “Nature MicrobiologyMolnupiravir was originally developed as an anti-flu drug. Its mechanism of action is the same as that of the drug Remdesivir, which is already used against Sars-CoV-2: it inhibits the replication of viruses by building mutations into their RNA.

Contain local outbreaks

In contrast to Remdesivir, which is administered as an infusion, according to the researchers, molnupiravir has a major advantage: “This is the first evidence of an orally available drug that quickly blocks the transmission of Sars-CoV-2,” said Plemper. Molnupiravir can be used at an early stage to treat people infected with corona, which offers several advantages: For example, a severe course of Covid-19 could be prevented at an early stage. The duration of the infection may also be shortened – which is emotional and saims to reduce ozioeconomic stress for patients. Simultaneously could The researchers hope that local corona outbreaks will be quickly contained with the new agent.

Plemper and his colleagues had tested the active ingredient on ferrets related to mink, since the spread of Sars-CoV-2 among animals was very similar to that observed in young adults. In both cases, the virus spreads quickly, but severe Covid-19 cases are rare.

What the experiments with ferrets showed: infected animals that had been treated with molnupiravir did not infect any of their healthy cage mates. In contrast, in animals treated with placebo, all other animals in the cage became infected. The orally administered agent could “dramatically reduce” the transferability, according to Plemper. These properties would make molnupiravir a “strong candidate” for containing the Covid-19 pandemic. “The MK-4482 / EIDD-2801 could change the game,” believes Plemper.

There were security concerns

However, concerns became known in May this year that the active ingredient could cause mutations in the offspring of animals, as the magazine said “Science” had reported. According to the testimony of a whistleblower, offspring of laboratory animals were born without teeth and without parts of their skulls after using similar drugs. According to the “Science” report, other researchers had also warned of possible dangers to the genome of offspring.

However, the developer of the active ingredient had rejected the allegations at the time: no change in the genetic material was observed in animal studies. And despite the safety concerns mentioned, several clinical studies with molnupiravir are already underway. The pharmaceutical company Merck is currently leading a clinical study of the advanced phases 2/3 with more than 1000 test persons. However, results are only expected for the coming year.

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