Two Indian drugmakers seek to end trials of Merck’s antiviral drug for moderate COVID-19
Two Indian drugmakers seek to end trials of Merck’s antiviral drug for moderate COVID-19
October 8, 2021; 10:24 AM EDT
BENGALURU, Oct 8 (Reuters) – Two Indian drugmakers have requested permission to end their late-stage trials on Merck & Co’s (MRK.N) experimental antiviral drug molnupiravir in moderate COVID-19 patients.
The two Indian drugmakers, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd (ARBN.NS) and MSN Laboratories plan to continue late-stage trials of the drug for those with mild COVID-19, the Indian drug regulator’s expert committee said on Friday.
The two companies separately sought permission to end trials in the case of moderate COVID-19 patients after having submitted interim clinical trial data around the effectiveness of the drug in treating this category of patients, the committee disclosed, throwing into question the efficacy of the experimental drug in improving outcomes for patients with moderate cases of COVID-19.
Separately, a senior source at India’s drug regulator told Reuters that molnupiravir had shown no “significant efficacy” against moderate COVID-19 cases. read more
Shares in Merck soared last week after it and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said an interim analysis of a late-stage clinical trial on molnupiravir showed the medicine nearly halved the risk of hospitalisation or death for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. read more
It was not immediately clear whether the Indian drugmakers and Merck used identical criteria to define moderate COVID-19 cases.
Aurobindo Pharma, MSN and Merck did not immediately reply to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Merck has entered into voluntary licensing agreements with at least eight Indian drugmakers for molnupiravir, with an aim to turn the South Asian nation into a manufacturing hub for the drug to supply low- and middle-income nations. read more
Aurobindo has been conducting a clinical trial on the drug in 100 patients with moderate COVID-19 since August this year. According to its trial details, moderate patients included those with fever, coughing, breathing difficulties and oxygen deficiency.
Of the eight Indian firms, five – Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (REDY.NS), Cipla (CIPL.NS), Sun Pharma (SUN.NS), Torrent Pharmaceuticals (TORP.NS) and Emcure Pharmaceuticals – are conducting a joint trial for the antiviral drug only in mild COVID-19 patients in an outpatient setting.
An experimental COVID-19 treatment pill called molnupiravir being developed by Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is seen in this undated handout photo released by Merck & Co Inc and obtained by Reuters May 17, 2021. Merck & Co Inc/Handout via REUTERS
The other licenced company, Hetero, in early July announced interim data from its own late-stage trial in treating mild COVID-19 patients and submitted an application for emergency use approval for the same.
Hetero is separately conducting a study on moderate COVID-19 patients and it has said clinical results on the same will be shared in due course.
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