On Nov. 26, 2021, Merck provided an update on the MOVe-OUT study of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine for COVID-19.

Data was available from all enrolled participants (n=1433). In this study population, molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death from 9.7% in the placebo group (68/699) to 6.8% (48/709) in the molnupiravir group, for an absolute risk reduction of 3.0% (95% confidence interval and a relative risk reduction of 30% (relative risk 0.70; 95%. Nine deaths were reported in the placebo group, and one in the molnupiravir group. The adverse event profile for molnupiravir remained consistent with the profile reported at the planned interim analysis.

Molnupiravir, developed by Merck and Ridgeback, is used to treat mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.