COVID-19 Pill Under Performs at Post-Exposure Prevention

Merck today announced that LAGEVRIO™ (molnupiravir) did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in the risk of COVID-19 following household exposure to another individual with COVID-19.

The Phase 3 MOVe-AHEAD trial evaluated people who did not have COVID-19 at baseline but lived with someone recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

The LAGEVRIO-treated group was observed to be 23.6% less likely than those who received a placebo to develop COVID-19 through Day 14, indicating the primary study endpoint was not met.

"Results from this post-exposure prevention study are scientifically interesting as we continue to learn more about COVID-19," commented Dr. Dean Y. Li, president, Merck Research Laboratories, in a press release on February 21, 2023.

"This was not a treatment study, and these results do not impact the efficacy and safety data observed in our Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19."

"We remain focused on our ongoing efforts to bring LAGEVRIO as a treatment to appropriate high-risk patients with COVID-19 where its use is authorized or approved."

"as well as to further study the ways it may benefit patients with other infectious diseases, such as RSV."

LAGEVRIO is approved or authorized in several markets, including the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, China, and Japan, to treat certain adults diagnosed with COVID-19.

LAGEVRIO is not authorized for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent COVID-19.

Merck intends to submit full results from this study for presentation at a scientific meeting or for publication.