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Liu D, Leung KY, Lam HY, Zhang R, Fan Y, Xie X, Chan KH, Hung IFN. Interaction and Antiviral Treatment of Coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza in Vitro. Virus Res 2024:199371. [PMID: 38621598 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has lasted for three years. Coinfection with seasonal influenza may occur resulting in more severe diseases. The interaction between these two viruses for infection and the effect of antiviral treatment remains unclear. METHODS A SARS-CoV-2 and influenza H1N1 coinfection model on Calu-3 cell line was established, upon which the simultaneous and sequential coinfection was evaluated by comparing the viral load. The efficacy of molnupiravir and baloxavir against individual virus and coinfection were also studied. RESULTS The replication of SARS-CoV-2 was significantly interfered when the influenza virus was infected simultaneously or in advance (p<0.05). On the contrary, the replication of the influenza virus was not affected by the SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir monotherapy had significant inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 when the concentration reached to 6.25μM but did not show any significant anti-influenza activity. Baloxavir was effective against influenza within the dosage range and showed significant effect of anti-SARS-CoV-2 at 16μM. In the treatment of coinfection, molnupiravir had significant effect for SARS-CoV-2 from 6.25μM to 100μM and inhibited H1N1 at 100μM (p<0.05). The tested dosage range of baloxavir can inhibit H1N1 significantly (p<0.05), while at the highest concentration of baloxavir did not further inhibit SARS-CoV-2, and the replication of SARS-CoV-2 significantly increased in lower concentrations. Combination treatment can effectively inhibit influenza H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 replication during coinfection. Compared with molnupiravir or baloxavir monotherapy, combination therapy was more effective in less dosage to inhibit the replication of both viruses. CONCLUSIONS In coinfection, the replication of SARS-CoV-2 would be interfered by influenza H1N1. Compared with molnupiravir or baloxavir monotherapy, treatment with a combination of molnupiravir and baloxavir should be considered for early treatment in patients with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Liu
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Yi Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hoi-Yan Lam
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ruiqi Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yujing Fan
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaochun Xie
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Sakaguchi T, Mitsuke A, Osako Y, Yamada Y, Takeyama H, Ogawa R, Takahashi K, Hirohata Y, Yamamoto S, Arima J, Fukumoto W, Sugita S, Inoguchi S, Matsushita R, Yoshino H, Tatarano S, Enokida H. Assessing antiviral treatment efficacy and risk factors for severe COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients during the Omicron subvariant-dominant period: a retrospective study. BMC Nephrol 2024; 25:124. [PMID: 38589827 PMCID: PMC11000285 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-024-03561-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and even now that Omicron subvariants have become dominant, cases of severe disease are certain to occur. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and to identify risk factors for severe disease in KTRs during Omicron subvariant-dominant periods. METHODS A total of 65 KTRs diagnosed with COVID-19 who received antiviral treatment between July 2022 and September 2023 were analyzed. Mild cases received oral molnupiravir (MP) as outpatient therapy, while moderate or worse cases received intravenous remdesivir (RDV) as inpatient therapy. In principle, mycophenolate mofetil was withdrawn and switched to everolimus. We investigated the efficacy of antiviral treatment and compared the clinical parameters of mild/moderate and severe/critical cases to identify risk factors for severe COVID-19. RESULTS Among 65 cases, 49 were mild, 6 were moderate, 9 were severe, and 1 was of critical severity. MP was administered to 57 cases; 49 (86%) improved and 8 (14%) progressed. RDV was administered to 16 cases; 14 (87%) improved and 2 (13%) progressed. Seventeen (26%) cases required hospitalization, and none died. Comparisons of the severe/critical group (n = 10) with the mild/moderate group (n = 55) demonstrated that the severe/critical group had a significantly higher median age (64 vs. 53 years, respectively; p = 0.0252), prevalence of diabetes (70% vs. 22%, respectively; p = 0.0047) and overweight/obesity (40% vs. 11%, respectively; p = 0.0393), as well as a significantly longer median time from symptom onset to initial antiviral therapy (3 days vs. 1 day, respectively; p = 0.0026). Multivariate analysis showed that a longer time from symptom onset to initial antiviral treatment was an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 (p = 0.0196, odds ratio 1.625, 95% confidence interval 1.081-2.441). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that a longer time from symptom onset to initial antiviral treatment is associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19 in KTRs. Initiating antiviral treatment as early as possible is crucial for preventing severe outcomes; this represents a valuable insight into COVID-19 management in KTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sakaguchi
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akihiko Mitsuke
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yoichi Osako
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yasutoshi Yamada
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Himawari Takeyama
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Risako Ogawa
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Katsuya Takahashi
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yukiko Hirohata
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Sayuri Yamamoto
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Junya Arima
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Wataru Fukumoto
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sugita
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Satoru Inoguchi
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Matsushita
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Yoshino
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Shuichi Tatarano
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hideki Enokida
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, 890-8520, Kagoshima, Japan.
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Hayashino K, Seike K, Fujiwara K, Kondo K, Matsubara C, Terao T, Kitamura W, Kamoi C, Fujiwara H, Asada N, Nishimori H, Ennishi D, Fujii K, Fujii N, Matsuoka KI, Maeda Y. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy after COVID-19 in refractory high-grade B-cell lymphoma. Int J Hematol 2024; 119:459-464. [PMID: 38349446 PMCID: PMC10960909 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-024-03711-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies have dramatically improved the outcomes of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies, recipients suffer from severe humoral immunodeficiencies. Furthermore, patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a poor prognosis, as noted in several case reports of recipients who had COVID-19 before the infusion. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who developed COVID-19 immediately before CAR-T therapy for high-grade B-cell lymphoma. She received Tixagevimab-Cilgavimab chemotherapy and radiation therapy but never achieved remission. She was transferred to our hospital for CAR-T therapy, but developed COVID-19. Her symptoms were mild and she was treated with long-term molnupiravir. On day 28 post-infection, lymphodepleting chemotherapy was restarted after a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was confirmed. The patient did not experience recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or severe cytokine release syndrome. Based on the analysis and comparison of the previous reports with this case, we believe that CAR-T therapy should be postponed until a negative PCR test is confirmed. In addition, Tixagevimab-Cilgavimab and long term direct-acting antiviral agent treatment can be effective prophylaxis for severe COVID-19 and shortening the duration of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Hayashino
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Seike
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan.
| | - Kanako Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kaho Kondo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Chisato Matsubara
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiki Terao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Wataru Kitamura
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kamoi
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hideaki Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noboru Asada
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hisakazu Nishimori
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ennishi
- Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keiko Fujii
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Nobuharu Fujii
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Matsuoka
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama-shi, Okayama, Japan
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Cheung YYH, Lau EHY, Yin G, Lin Y, Jiang J, Cowling BJ, Lam KF. Joint analysis of vaccination effectiveness and antiviral drug effectiveness for COVID-19: a causal inference approach. Int J Infect Dis 2024; 143:107012. [PMID: 38521448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to estimate the causal effects of oral antivirals and vaccinations in the prevention of all-cause mortality and progression to severe COVID-19 in an integrative setting with both antivirals and vaccinations considered as interventions. METHODS We identified hospitalized adult patients (i.e. aged 18 or above) in Hong Kong with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 16, 2022, and December 31, 2022. An inverse probability-weighted (IPW) Andersen-Gill model with time-dependent predictors was used to address immortal time bias and produce causal estimates for the protection effects of oral antivirals and vaccinations against severe COVID-19. RESULTS Given prescription is made within 5 days of confirmed infection, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is more effective in providing protection against all-cause mortality and development into severe COVID-19 than molnupiravir. There was no significant difference between CoronaVac and Comirnaty in the effectiveness of reducing all-cause mortality and progression to severe COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS The use of oral antivirals and vaccinations causes lower risks of all-cause mortality and progression to severe COVID-19 for hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yat Harrison Cheung
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Eric Ho Yin Lau
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Guosheng Yin
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, The United Kingdom
| | - Yun Lin
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jialiang Jiang
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Benjamin John Cowling
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H) Limited, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kwok Fai Lam
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
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Cheema HA, Abdul Rab S, Butt M, Jafar U, Shahid A, Rehman AU, Lee KY, Sahra S, Sah R. Molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 outpatients: An updated meta-analysis. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2024:S1684-1182(24)00048-3. [PMID: 38555274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of available data on molnupiravir come from an unvaccinated COVID-19 population. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to integrate evidence from recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as well as observational studies stratified by vaccination status to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in COVID-19 outpatients. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, medRxiv, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to November 2023. We conducted our meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4 with risk ratio (RR) as the effect measure. RESULTS We included 8 RCTs and 5 observational studies in our meta-analysis. Molnupiravir reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.28; 95% CI: 0.20-0.79, I2 = 0%) but did not decrease the hospitalization rate (RR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45-1.00, I2 = 53%) in the overall population; in the immunized population, no benefits were observed. Molnupiravir lowered the rate of no recovery (RR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.76-0.81, I2 = 0%) and increased virological clearance at day 5 (RR 2.68; 95% CI: 1.94-4.22, I2 = 85%). There was no increase in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Molnupiravir does not decrease mortality and hospitalization rates in immunized patients with COVID-19. However, it does shorten the disease course and increases the recovery rate. The use of molnupiravir will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis in the context of the prevailing social circumstances, the resource setting, drug costs, and the healthcare burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huzaifa Ahmad Cheema
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | | | - Momina Butt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Uzair Jafar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abia Shahid
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aqeeb Ur Rehman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ka Yiu Lee
- Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
| | - Syeda Sahra
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Santos-Ferreira N, Van Dycke J, Chiu W, Neyts J, Matthijnssens J, Rocha-Pereira J. Molnupiravir inhibits human norovirus and rotavirus replication in 3D human intestinal enteroids. Antiviral Res 2024; 223:105839. [PMID: 38373532 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Human norovirus (HuNoV) and human rotavirus (HRV) are the leading causes of gastrointestinal diarrhea. There are no approved antivirals and rotavirus vaccines are insufficient to cease HRV associated mortality. Furthermore, treatment of chronically infected immunocompromised patients is limited to off-label compassionate use of repurposed antivirals with limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need of potent and specific antivirals for HuNoV and HRV. Recently, a major breakthrough in the in vitro cultivation of HuNoV and HRV derived from the use of human intestinal enteroids (HIEs). The replication of multiple circulating HuNoV and HRV genotypes can finally be studied and both in the same non-transformed and physiologically relevant model. Activity of previously described anti-norovirus or anti-rotavirus drugs, such as 2'-C-methylcytidine (2CMC), 7-deaza-2'-C-methyladenosine (7DMA), nitazoxanide, favipiravir and dasabuvir, was assessed against clinically relevant human genotypes using 3D-HIEs. 2CMC showed the best activity against HuNoV GII.4, while 7DMA was the most potent antiviral against HRV. We identified the anti-norovirus and -rotavirus activity of molnupiravir and its active metabolite, N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), a broad-spectrum antiviral used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Molnupiravir and NHC inhibit HuNoV GII.4, HRV G1P[8], G2P[4] and G4P[6] in 3D-HIEs with high selectivity and show a potency comparable to 2CMC against HuNoV. Moreover, molnupiravir and NHC block HRV viroplasm formation, but do not alter its size or subcellular localization. Taken together, molnupiravir inhibits both HuNoV and HRV replication, suggesting that the drug could be a candidate for the treatment of patients chronically infected with either one of these diarrhea causing viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanci Santos-Ferreira
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jana Van Dycke
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Winston Chiu
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Matthijnssens
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joana Rocha-Pereira
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium.
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Sukaina M, Shuja SH, Rehan ST, Ochani S, Sheryar M. Virology and safety profile of Molnupiravir at three different doses for treatment of SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis. APMIS 2024; 132:139-151. [PMID: 38288881 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Molnupiravir is incorporated into the viral genome, thereby increasing errors, mismatching, and misdirecting the viral polymerase thereby, halting viral RNA replication of SARS-CoV-2. Following PRISMA guidelines, a thorough literature search was performed on electronic and medical databases from December 2022 till January 2023. Molnupiravir 800 mg showed significance in creating viral RNA error rate at Day 5 (WMD: 4.91; 95% CI; [1.19, 8.63] p = 0.01; I2 = 0%). Similarly, at 400 mg, Molnupiravir creates an RNA error rate (WMD: 2.27; 95% CI; 2.27 [0.50, 4.65] p = 0.02; I2 = 0%). Furthermore, exhibit a significant outcome for mean change in SARS-CoV-2 RNA viral load from baseline in nasopharyngeal sample at 800 mg Molnupiravir on Day 3 (WMD: -0.22; 95% CI; [-0.35, -0.08] p = 0.002; I2 = 0%), Day 5 (WMD: -0.32; 95% CI; [-0.53, -0.11] p = 0.003; I2 = 24%) and overall pooled analysis (WMD: -0.17; 95% CI; [-0.29, 0.33] p = 0.003; I2 = 32%). Moreover, Molnupiravir 400 mg significantly reduced the incidence of death compared to the placebo group (RR: 0.17; 95% CI; [0.07, 0.43] p = 0.0002; I2 = 0%). Molnupiravir effectively treats SARS-CoV-2 patients by eliminating the virus from the host.
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Penrice-Randal R, Bentley EG, Sharma P, Kirby A, Donovan-Banfield I, Kipar A, Mega DF, Bramwell C, Sharp J, Owen A, Hiscox JA, Stewart JP. The effect of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir on SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity in infected and immune suppressed mice. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.27.582110. [PMID: 38464327 PMCID: PMC10925244 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to severe COVID-19 and potentially contribute to the emergence of variants with altered pathogenicity due to persistent infection. This study investigated the impact of immunosuppression on SARS-CoV-2 infection in k18-hACE2 mice and the effectiveness of antiviral treatments in this context. Methods Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide and infected with a B lineage of SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir, alone and in combination, were administered and viral load and viral sequence diversity was assessed. Results Treatment of infected but immune compromised mice with both compounds either singly or in combination resulted in decreased viral loads and pathological changes compared to untreated animals. Treatment also abrogated infection of neuronal tissue. However, no consistent changes in the viral consensus sequence were observed, except for the emergence of the S:H655Y mutation. Molnupiravir, but not nirmatrelvir or immunosuppression alone, increased the transition/transversion (Ts/Tv) ratio, representative of A>G and C>U mutations and this increase was not altered by the co-administration of nirmatrelvir with molnupiravir.Notably, immunosuppression itself did not appear to promote the emergence of mutational characteristic of variants of concern (VOCs). Conclusions Further investigations are warranted to fully understand the role of immunocompromised individuals in VOC development and to inform optimised public health strategies. It is more likely that immunodeficiency promotes viral persistence but does not necessarily lead to substantial consensus-level changes in the absence of antiviral selection pressure. Consistent with mechanisms of action, molnupiravir showed a stronger mutagenic effect than nirmatrelvir in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanor G. Bentley
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Parul Sharma
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Adam Kirby
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - I’ah Donovan-Banfield
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Anja Kipar
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Laboratory for Animal Model Pathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele F. Mega
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chloe Bramwell
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Joanne Sharp
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew Owen
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Julian A. Hiscox
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Laboratories (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - James P. Stewart
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, UK
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9
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Jang YR, Oh Y, Kim JY. Determining and Comparing the Real-World Effectiveness of Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e52. [PMID: 38374626 PMCID: PMC10876432 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend using nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment, but its potential drug interactions and contraindications limit its applicability in certain categories of patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in managing COVID-19 among hospitalized patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who received molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and did not require baseline supplemental oxygen from February 2022 to January 2023. We compared the effectiveness of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir with a focus on disease progression. RESULTS The study included 401 high-risk, hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients who received molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. No significant difference was found in disease progression, the composite outcome of disease progression (4.0% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.782), and O2 supplementation via nasal prong (21.8% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.115) between the patients treated with molnupiravir and those treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. This finding was similar after 1:1 propensity-score matching. In the multivariate analysis, molnupiravir treatment was not significantly associated with progression to severe disease. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings suggest that similar to nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, molnupiravir has a distinct potential role in COVID-19 treatment, transcending its current perceived status as only a secondary option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Rock Jang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
| | - Yoonju Oh
- Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
| | - Jin Yong Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
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10
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Chen MP, Jiang DX, Rang JX, Zhuo HB, Zhou ZG. Comparison of azvudine, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3318. [PMID: 38337014 PMCID: PMC10858188 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53862-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the effectiveness and safety of azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and molnupiravir in adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study included patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (asymptomatic, mild, and common types) at the First Hospital of Changsha (Hunan Province, China) between March and November 2022. Eligible patients were classified into the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, or molnupiravir groups according to the antiviral agents they received. The outcomes were the times to nucleic acid negative conversion (NANC). This study included 157 patients treated with azvudine (n = 66), molnupiravir (n = 66), or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (n = 25). There were no statistically significant differences in the time from diagnosis to NANC among the azvudine, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups [median, 9 (95% CI 9-11) vs. 11 (95% CI 10-12) vs. 9 (95% CI 8-12) days, P = 0.15], time from administration to NANC [median, 9 (95% CI 8-10) vs. 10 (95% CI 9.48-11) vs. 8.708 (95% CI 7.51-11) days, P = 0.50], or hospital stay [median, 11 (95% CI 11-13) vs. 13 (95% CI 12-14) vs. 12 (95% CI 10-14) days, P = 0.14], even after adjustment for sex, age, COVID-19 type, comorbidities, Ct level, time from diagnosis to antiviral treatment, and number of symptoms. The cumulative NANC rates in the azvudine, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups were 15.2%/12.3%/16.0% at day 5 (P = 0.858), 34.8%/21.5%/32.0% at day 7 (P = 0.226), 66.7%/52.3%/60.0% at 10 days (P = 0.246), and 86.4%/86.2%/80.0% at day 14 (P = 0.721). No serious adverse events were reported. Azvudine may be comparable to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir in adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 regarding time to NANC, hospital stay, and AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ping Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First Hospital of Changsha), Changsha, 410000, People's Republic of China
| | - Di-Xuan Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First Hospital of Changsha), Changsha, 410000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Xi Rang
- Department of Nurse, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First Hospital of Changsha), Changsha, 410000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Bo Zhuo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First Hospital of Changsha), Changsha, 410000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Guo Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First Hospital of Changsha), Changsha, 410000, People's Republic of China.
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11
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El-Shafai NM, Mostafa YS, Ramadan MS, M El-Mehasseb I. Enhancement efficiency delivery of antiviral Molnupiravir-drug via the loading with self-assembly nanoparticles of pycnogenol and cellulose which are decorated by zinc oxide nanoparticles for COVID-19 therapy. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107028. [PMID: 38086240 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The target of the study is to modify the efficiency of Molnupiravir-drug (MOL) for COVID-19 therapy via the rearrangement of the building engineering of MOL-drug by loading it with self-assembly biomolecules nanoparticles (NPs) of pycnogenol (Pyc) and cellulose (CNC) which are decorated by zinc oxide nanoparticles. The synthesis and characterization of the modified drug are performing successfully, the loading and release process of the MOL drug on a nano surface is measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy under room temperature and different pH. The release efficiency of the MOL drug is calculated to be 65% (pH 6.8) and 69% (pH 7.4). The modified MOL drug displays 71% (pH 6.8) and 78% (pH 7.4) for CNC@Pyc.MOL nanocomposite, while CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO nanocomposite gave values at 76% (pH 6.8) and 78% (pH 7.4), the efficiency recorded after 19 h. The biological activity of the MOL-drug and modified MOL-drug is measured, and the cytotoxicity is performed by SRB technique, where the self-assembly (CNC@Pyc) appears to be a safe healthy, and high viability against the examined cell line. The antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory are evaluated, where the nanocomposite that has ZnO NPs (CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO) gave high efficiency compared to the composite without ZnO NPs. The CPE-inhibition assay is used to identify potential antivirals against CVID-19 (229E virus), the viral inhibition (%) was reported at 37.6 % (for 800 µg/ml) and 18.02 % (for 400 µg/ml) of CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO. So, the modified MOL-drug was suggested as a replacement drug for the therapy of COVID-19 compared to MOL-drug, but the results need clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagi M El-Shafai
- Nanotechnology Center, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Egypt.
| | - Yasser S Mostafa
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed S Ramadan
- Department of Chemistry - Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim M El-Mehasseb
- Nanotechnology Center, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Egypt.
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Chen PY, Wang JT, Chang SC. Antiviral therapy of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Formos Med Assoc 2024; 123 Suppl 1:S47-S54. [PMID: 37661527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reached a turning point. The non-pharmaceutical interventions for preventing COVID-19 are lifting. Vaccination uptake is increasing in general, but this strategy is continuously challenged by the rapid evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Of note, the Omicron subvariants spread globally for at least one year, and the most recently developed subvariants show strong immune evasion to preexisting immunity, either from previous infection, vaccination or both. Therefore, early and appropriate antiviral agents to treat patients at risk for severe COVID-19 or death is crucial to decrease morbidities and mortalities, to restore the healthcare capacities and to facilitate a return to the new normal. Current antiviral therapy for COVID-19 consist of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and direct antiviral agents. Each agent has been proved for early ambulatory treatment of COIVD-19, but suffer from variable effectiveness and limitations due to patients' comorbidities, drug properties, or antiviral resistance. Besides, some specific mAbs are indicated for prophylaxis of COVID-19 before or after close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. This review article summarizes the evidence and unmet needs of the currently available antiviral agents for management of COVID-19 in the context of the Omicron subvariants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pao-Yu Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jann-Tay Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; National Institutes of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Shan-Chwen Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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13
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Yii YC, Shih HM, Chen CL, Lai ZL, Hsu YL, Lai CH, Hsueh PR, Cho DY. Effect of pre-hospitalization use of oral antiviral agents on reducing critical illness and mortality for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107020. [PMID: 37898365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.107020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the effect of administering nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir before hospitalisation on subsequent critical illness among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who required hospitalisation between 1 January 1 2022 and 31 August 2022. The primary outcomes were the development of critical illness, including intensive care unit admission, use of mechanical ventilation, or mortality. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the varying risks of critical illness and mortality. A total of 1,011 COVID-19 patients were analysed. Among them, 304 (30.1%) received molnupiravir and 131 (13.0%) received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir before hospitalisation. RESULTS There were significant reductions for critical illness (adjusted odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.39, P < 0.001) and mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.27-0.59, P < 0.001) in patients receiving oral antivirals compared with those who did not. No significant differences in critical illness were observed between molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. The combination of COVID-19 vaccines and oral antivirals can further reduce the risk of critical illness in high-risk populations. CONCLUSION Administering molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir before hospitalisation reduced the risk of COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe pneumonia progressing to critical illness and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Cheng Yii
- Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Mo Shih
- Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Lung Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Lun Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lung Hsu
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Disease, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hong Lai
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ren Hsueh
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Der-Yang Cho
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Shinozaki S, Watanabe A, Kimata M, Miyazaki M, Maekawa S. Safety and Effectiveness of Molnupiravir in Japanese Patients with COVID-19: Final Report of Post-marketing Surveillance in Japan. Infect Dis Ther 2024; 13:189-205. [PMID: 38233606 PMCID: PMC10828263 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Molnupiravir is an orally available prodrug of N-hydroxycytidine that received special approval for emergency treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan in December 2021 and full approval in April 2023. To assess the real-world safety and effectiveness of molnupiravir in Japanese patients with COVID-19, we conducted nationwide post-marketing surveillance to collect data at registered institutions in Japan. METHODS The surveillance data were collected from December 27, 2021, to May 2, 2023. All reported adverse events were collected for safety analysis. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were assessed by the treating physicians. Effectiveness was assessed by the composite of hospitalization or all-cause death in outpatients and the composite of oxygen/mechanical ventilation initiation or all-cause death in inpatients. The observation period was from molnupiravir initiation through day 29. RESULTS Of 3214 patients enrolled in the survey, 3179 were analyzed for safety. At baseline, 52.31% (1663/3179) of patients were male, the median (range) age was 69.0 (18-107) years, 82.38% (2619/3179) received COVID-19 vaccines, and 95.72% (3043/3179) had risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness. COVID-19 severity at baseline was mild in 86.44% (2748/3179) and moderate I in 10.22% (325/3179). A total of 205 ADRs occurred in 5.50% (175/3179) of patients; ADRs that occurred in > 0.5% of patients were diarrhea (1.86% [59/3179]) and rash (0.69% [22/3179]). Seven serious ADRs were reported in seven patients. In the effectiveness analysis population, the incidence of all-cause death through day 29 was 1.14% (34/2988), and the incidence of death through day 29 related to COVID-19 was 0.40% (12/2988). The cumulative incidence of the composite endpoint was 2.34% (47/2006) in outpatients and 4.60% (38/826) in inpatients. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale survey showed that molnupiravir was safe and effective in real-world settings in highly vaccinated Japanese patients with COVID-19, including older patients and those with comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Shinozaki
- Medical Affairs MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-Kita, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan.
| | - Asuka Watanabe
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-Kita, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kimata
- Medical Affairs MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-Kita, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Makoto Miyazaki
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-Kita, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Shinichiroh Maekawa
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-Kita, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
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Ghedira D, El Harran AA, Abderrazak H. Design and study of bioisosteric analogues of the drug Molnupiravir as potential therapeutics against SARS-COV-2: an in silico approach. In Silico Pharmacol 2023; 12:1. [PMID: 38050480 PMCID: PMC10693539 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-023-00171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created an urgent need for effective antiviral drugs that can be rapidly developed and utilized to treat patients infected with the virus. Molnupiravir, a direct-acting oral antiviral, has shown promising results in reducing viral infections with SARS-CoV-2. Nonetheless, there is still a need for the development of more efficacious analogues with enhanced interaction with the specific target, the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and better physico-chemical profile. Our study is based on a rational design strategy, known as "bioisosterism", to design some analogues. The pool of bioisosteric structural analogues was further enriched using the "SwissBioisostere" database. Only structures with a Tanimoto score more than 0.85 (calculated using the Maximum Common Substructure scoring method) and with ΔlogP (lipophilicity) ± 1 and ΔPSA (Polar Surface Area) ± 10 Å were retained. Next, molecular docking studies were conducted using AutoDock Vina®. Ligand and receptor preparation and molecular interaction analysis were performed using UCSF Chimera® and Biovia Discovery Studio®, respectively. The three-dimensional structure of the RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 (6M71) was sourced from RCSB PDB®. Ligands were prepared in 3D, and the receptor underwent solvent removal, elimination of alternative positions, hydrogen atom addition, and partial charge assignment. Binding pocket coordinates were determined, and utilized for AutoDock Vina® docking. Parallelly, the druglikeness of our molecules was predicted using the website ADME-SWISS: http://www.swissadme.ch/, based on Lipinski and Weber scores. Docking outcomes, combined to druglikeness prediction results, identified two fluorinated analogues with superior binding affinity (lowest score and an RMSD ≤ 2 Å) and improved physico-chemical properties (no violation of Lipinsky and Veber rules). This study contributes to the development of more effective antiviral drugs by providing insights into potential uegs with enhanced interactions with RNA polymerase and better druglikeness profile. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Donia Ghedira
- Present Address: Laboratory of Drugs Development (LR12ES09), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Abderrazak Aziz El Harran
- Present Address: Laboratory of Drugs Development (LR12ES09), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Houyem Abderrazak
- Laboratory of Useful Materials (LMU), National Institute of Research and Physico-Chemical Analysis (INRAP), Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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Strizki JM, Grobler JA, Murgolo N, Fridman A, Johnson MG, Du J, Carmelitano P, Brown ML, Paschke A, De Anda C. Virologic Outcomes with Molnupiravir in Non-hospitalized Adult Patients with COVID-19 from the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled MOVe-OUT Trial. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:2725-2743. [PMID: 37995070 PMCID: PMC10746688 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00891-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind MOVe-OUT trial demonstrated molnupiravir (800 mg every 12 h for 5 days) as safe and effective for outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, significantly reducing the risk of hospitalization/death in high-risk adults. At the time of that report, virologic assessments from the trial were partially incomplete as a result of their time-intensive nature. Here we present final results from all prespecified virology endpoints in MOVe-OUT based on the full trial dataset. METHODS Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at baseline (day 1, prior to first dose) and days 3, 5 (end-of-treatment visit), 10, 15, and 29. From these samples, change from baseline in SARS-CoV-2 RNA titers (determined by quantitative PCR), detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 (by plaque assay), and SARS-CoV-2 viral error induction (determined by whole genome next-generation sequencing) were assessed as exploratory endpoints. RESULTS Molnupiravir was associated with greater mean reductions from baseline in SARS-CoV-2 RNA than placebo (including 50% relative reduction at end-of-treatment) through day 10. Among participants with infectious virus detected at baseline (n = 96 molnupiravir, n = 97 placebo) and evaluable post-baseline samples, no molnupiravir-treated participant had infectious SARS-CoV-2 by day 3, whereas infectious virus was recovered from 21% of placebo-arm participants on day 3 and 2% at end-of-treatment. Consistent with molnupiravir's mechanism of action, sequence analysis demonstrated that molnupiravir was associated with an increased number of low-frequency transition errors randomly distributed across the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome compared with placebo (median 143.5 molnupiravir, 15 placebo), while transversion errors were infrequent overall (median 2 in both arms). Outcomes were consistent regardless of baseline SARS-CoV-2 clade, presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response, or viral load. CONCLUSIONS A 5-day course of orally administered molnupiravir demonstrated a consistently greater virologic effect than placebo, including rapidly eliminating infectious SARS-CoV-2, in high-risk outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04575597.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jay A Grobler
- Merck & Co., Inc., 90 E Scott Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | | | - Arthur Fridman
- Merck & Co., Inc., 90 E Scott Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | | | - Jiejun Du
- Merck & Co., Inc., 90 E Scott Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | | | | | - Amanda Paschke
- Merck & Co., Inc., 90 E Scott Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Carisa De Anda
- Merck & Co., Inc., 90 E Scott Ave, Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
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Park HR, Yoo MG, Kim JM, Bae SJ, Lee H, Kim J. Effectiveness of Molnupiravir Treatment in Patients with COVID-19 in Korea: A Propensity Score Matched Study. Infect Chemother 2023; 55:490-499. [PMID: 38014730 PMCID: PMC10771951 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2023.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The MOVe-OUT (efficacy and safety of molnupiravir [MK-4482] in non-hospitalized adult participants with COVID-19 [MK-4482-002]) trial reported that the administration of molnupiravir in unvaccinated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before the Omicron epidemic showed a preventive effect of 31% against hospitalization and death. However, studies on the preventive effect of molnupiravir against progression to severe disease and death in patients with COVID-19 during the Omicron epidemic are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death in Korean patients with COVID-19 who were vaccinated mostly during the Omicron epidemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study used large-scale retrospective cohort data to select patients with COVID-19 who were either treated or not treated with molnupiravir, between August 2022 and March 2023, at a ratio of 1 : 4 using the propensity score matching method. In total, 762,768 patients comprised the non- administered group, and 190,692 patients comprised the molnupiravir-administered group. The preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death, represented by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), in the molnupiravir-administered and non-administered group was (OR: 0.714; CI: 0.667 - 0.764) and (OR: 0.749; CI: 0.682 - 0.823), respectively. As age increased, the preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death and death increased. The preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death at ≥60 years was (OR: 0.669; CI: 0.624 - 0.717), at ≥70 years was (OR: 0.614; CI: 0.570 - 0.661), and at ≥80 years was (OR: 0.563; CI: 0.515 - 0.615). The preventive effect against death at ≥60 years was (OR: 0.729; CI: 0.663 - 0.802), at ≥70 years was (OR: 0.676; CI: 0.612 - 0.747), and at ≥80 years was (OR: 0.622; CI: 0.554 - 0.698). CONCLUSION Although molnupiravir showed a relatively weak preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death (29%) and death (25%) among patients with COVID-19, it exhibited a stronger protective effect in older patients than in younger patients. In particular, the preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death (44%) and death (38%) in those aged ≥80 years was pronounced. This study strongly suggests that molnupiravir administration can alleviate the burden on the medical system, and treat patients with COVID-19 effectively by reducing its progression to severe disease and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Rim Park
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Min-Gyu Yoo
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Division of Public Health Emergency Response Research, Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jong Mu Kim
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Soon Jong Bae
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hyungmin Lee
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Division of Emerging Infectious Disease, Bureau of Infectious Disease Risk Response, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Division of Vaccine-Prevetable Diseases Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jungyeon Kim
- Patient Management Team, Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Division of Emerging Infectious Disease, Bureau of Infectious Disease Risk Response, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Division of Clinical Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea.
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18
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Nakka S, Muchakayala SK, Manabolu Surya SB. A sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous assay and trace level genotoxic impurities quantification of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor- Molnupiravir in its pure and formulation dosage forms using fractional factorial design. Results Chem 2023; 6:101019. [PMID: 37396150 PMCID: PMC10293121 DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2023.101019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Two potential genotoxic impurities were identified (PGTIs)-viz. 4-amino-1-((2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)pyrimidin-2(1H)-one (PGTI-1), and 1-(2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)pyrimidin-2,4(1H,3H)-one (PGTI-II) in the Molnupiravir (MOPR) synthetic routes. COVID-19 disease was treated with MOPR when mild to moderate symptoms occurred. Two (Q)-SAR methods were used to assess the genotoxicity, and projected results were positive and categorized into Class-3 for both PGTIs. A simple, accurate and highly sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was optimized for the simultaneous quantification of the assay, and these impurities in MOPR drug substance and formulation dosage form. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technique was utilized for the quantification. Prior to the validation study, the UPLC-MS method conditions were optimised using fractional factorial design (FrFD). The optimized Critical Method Parameters (CMPs) include the percentage of Acetonitrile in MP B, Concentration of Formic acid in MP A, Cone Voltage, Capillary Voltage, Collision gas flow and Desolvation temperature were determined from the numerical optimization to be 12.50 %, 0.13 %, 13.6 V, 2.6 kV, 850 L/hr and 375 °C, respectively. The optimized chromatographic separation achieved on Waters Acquity HSS T3 C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) in a gradient elution mode with 0.13% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as mobile phases, column temperature kept at 35 °C and flow rate at 0.5 mL/min. The method was successfully validated as per ICH guidelines, and demonstrated excellent linearity over the concentration range of 0.5-10 ppm for both PGTIs. The Pearson correlation coefficient of each impurity and MOPR was found to be higher than 0.999, and the recoveries were in between the range of 94.62 to 104.05% for both PGTIs and 99.10 to 100.25% for MOPR. It is also feasible to utilise this rapid method to quantify MOPR accurately in biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Nakka
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad 502329, India
| | - Siva Krishna Muchakayala
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad 502329, India
- Analytical Research and Development, Catalent Pharma Solutions, 1100 Enterprise Drive, Winchester, KY, 40391, USA
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19
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Park JJ, Kim H, Kim YK, Lee SS, Jung E, Lee JS, Lee J. Effectiveness and Adverse Events of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Versus Molnupiravir for COVID-19 in Outpatient Setting: Multicenter Prospective Observational Study. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e347. [PMID: 37904658 PMCID: PMC10615643 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness and adverse reactions of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir in high-risk outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS This multicenter prospective observational study evaluated the rate of hospitalization, death, and adverse events within 28 days of oral antiviral agent prescription (molnupiravir, n = 240; nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, n = 240) to 480 nonhospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 from August 2, 2022 to March 31, 2023. RESULTS Patients receiving molnupiravir had a higher prevalence of comorbidities (85.8% vs. 70.4%; P < 0.001) and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (2.8 ± 1.4 vs. 2.5 ± 1.5; P = 0.009) than those receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Three patients required hospitalization (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group, n = 1 [0.4%]; molnupiravir group, n = 2 [0.8%]; P = 1.000). Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was associated with a higher risk of adverse events than molnupiravir (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.03), especially for patients aged 65 years and older (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.71-5.39). The severity of adverse events in both groups was mild to moderate and improved after discontinuation of medication. In the molnupiravir group, age ≥ 65 years (OR, 0.43 95% CI, 0.22-0.86) and appropriate vaccination (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.91) reduced the occurrence of adverse events. CONCLUSION The rates of hospitalization and death were low and not significantly different between high-risk patients who received either nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir. Although adverse events were more frequent with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir than with molnupiravir, none were severe. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can be safely used to treat COVID-19, while molnupiravir could be considered as an alternative treatment option for high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ju Park
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunji Kim
- Korean Physician's Association, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong Kyun Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
| | - Seung Soon Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Eunju Jung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea
| | - Jin Seo Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jacob Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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20
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Istifli ES, Okumus N, Sarikurkcu C, Kuhn ER, Netz PA, Tepe AS. Comparative docking and molecular dynamics studies of molnupiravir (EIDD-2801): implications for novel mechanisms of action on influenza and SARS-CoV-2 protein targets. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37811782 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2267696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Molnupiravir (EIDD-2801) (MLN) is an oral antiviral drug for COVID-19 treatment, being integrated into viral RNA through RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Upon ingestion, MLN is transformed into two active metabolites: β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) (EIDD-1931) in the host plasma, and EIDD-1931-triphosphate (MTP) within the host cells. However, recent studies provide increasing evidence of MLN's interactions with off-target proteins beyond the viral genome, suggesting that the complete mechanisms of action of MLN remain unclear. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the molecular interactions of MLN in the form of NHC and MTP with the non-RNA structural components of avian influenza (hemagglutinin, neuraminidase) and SARS-CoV-2 (spike glycoprotein, Mpro, and RdRp) viruses and to elucidate whether these two metabolites possess the ability to form stable complexes with these major viral components. Molecular docking of NHC and MTP was performed using AutoDock 4.2.6 and the obtained protein-drug complexes were submitted to 200-ns molecular dynamics simulations in triplicate with subsequent free energy calculations using GROMACS. Docking scores, molecular dynamics and MM/GBSA results showed that MTP was tightly bound within the active site of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and remained highly stable throughout the 200-ns simulations. Besides, it was also shown that NHC and MTP formed moderately-to-highly stable molecular complexes with off-target receptors hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and Mpro, but rather weak interactions with spike glycoprotein. Our computational findings suggest that NHC and MTP may directly inhibit these receptors, and propose that additional studies on the off-target effects of MLN, i.e. real-time protein binding assays, should be performed.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erman Salih Istifli
- Faculty of Science and Literature, Department of Biology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Nurullah Okumus
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Cengiz Sarikurkcu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Eduardo Ramires Kuhn
- Theoretical Chemistry Group, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paulo A Netz
- Theoretical Chemistry Group, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Arzuhan Sihoglu Tepe
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Kilis 7 Aralik University, Vocational High School of Health Services, Kilis, Turkey
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21
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Tipih T, Meade-White K, Rao D, Bushmaker T, Lewis M, Shaia C, Feldmann H, Hawman DW. Favipiravir and Ribavirin protect immunocompetent mice from lethal CCHFV infection. Antiviral Res 2023; 218:105703. [PMID: 37611878 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in humans with high morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is neither an approved antiviral drug nor a vaccine against CCHFV. In this study, we describe a lethal model of CCHFV infection using a mouse-adapted strain of CCHFV (MA-CCHFV) in adult wild-type male mice. Infected mice developed high viral loads, tissue pathology, and inflammatory immune responses before ultimately succumbing to the infection. We used the model to evaluate the protective efficacy of nucleoside analogs monulpiravir, favipiravir, ribavirin, the antibiotic tigecycline and the corticosteroids dexamethasone and methylprednisolone against lethal CCHFV infection. Tigecycline, monulpiravir and the corticosteroids failed to protect mice from lethal MA-CCHFV infection. In contrast, favipiravir and ribavirin protected animals from clinical disease and death even when treatment was delayed. Despite demonstrating uniform protection, CCHFV RNA persisted in survivors treated with favipiravir and ribavirin. Nevertheless, the study demonstrated the anti-CCHFV efficacy of favipiravir and ribavirin in a model with intact innate immunity and establishes this model for continued development of CCHFV countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tipih
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Kimberly Meade-White
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Deepashri Rao
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Trenton Bushmaker
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Mathew Lewis
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - David W Hawman
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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22
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Salmanton-García J, Marchesi F, Koehler P, Weinbergerová B, Čolović N, Falces-Romero I, Buquicchio C, Farina F, van Praet J, Biernat MM, Itri F, Prezioso L, Tascini C, Vena A, Romano A, Delia M, Dávila-Valls J, Martín-Pérez S, Lavilla-Rubira E, Adžić-Vukičević T, García-Bordallo D, López-García A, Criscuolo M, Petzer V, Fracchiolla NS, Espigado I, Sili U, Meers S, Erben N, Cattaneo C, Tragiannidis A, Gavriilaki E, Schönlein M, Mitrovic M, Pantic N, Merelli M, Labrador J, Hernández-Rivas JÁ, Glenthøj A, Fouquet G, Del Principe MI, Dargenio M, Calbacho M, Besson C, Kohn M, Gräfe S, Hersby DS, Arellano E, Çolak GM, Wolf D, Marchetti M, Nordlander A, Blennow O, Cordoba R, Mišković B, Mladenović M, Bavastro M, Limongelli A, Rahimli L, Pagano L, Cornely OA. Molnupiravir compared to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19 in high-risk patients with haematological malignancy in Europe. A matched-paired analysis from the EPICOVIDEHA registry. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2023; 62:106952. [PMID: 37582478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir are antivirals used to prevent progression to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and decrease hospitalisation and mortality rates. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was authorised in Europe in December 2021, whereas molnupiravir is not yet licensed in Europe as of February 2022. Molnupiravir may be an alternative to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir because it is associated with fewer drug-drug interactions and contraindications. A caveat for molnupiravir is the mode of action induces viral mutations. Mortality rate reduction with molnupiravir was less pronounced than that with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients without haematological malignancy. Little is known about the comparative efficacy of the two drugs in patients with haematological malignancy at high-risk of severe COVID-19. Thus, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were compared in a cohort of patients with haematological malignancies. METHODS Clinical data from patients treated with molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir monotherapy for COVID-19 were retrieved from the EPICOVIDEHA registry. Patients treated with molnupiravir were matched by sex, age (±10 years), and severity of baseline haematological malignancy to controls treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. RESULTS A total of 116 patients receiving molnupiravir for the clinical management of COVID-19 were matched to an equal number of controls receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. In each of the groups, 68 (59%) patients were male; with a median age of 64 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53-74) for molnupiravir recipients and 64 years (IQR 54-73) for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir recipients; 56.9% (n=66) of the patients had controlled baseline haematological malignancy, 12.9% (n=15) had stable disease, and 30.2% (n=35) had active disease at COVID-19 onset in each group. During COVID-19 infection, one third of patients from each group were admitted to hospital. Although a similar proportion of patients in the two groups were vaccinated (molnupiravir n=77, 66% vs. nirmatrelvir/ritonavir n=87, 75%), more of those treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir had received four vaccine doses (n=27, 23%) compared with those treated with molnupiravir (n=5, 4%) (P<0.001). No differences were detected in COVID-19 severity (P=0.39) or hospitalisation (P=1.0). No statistically significant differences were identified in overall mortality rate (P=0.78) or survival probability (d30 P=0.19, d60 P=0.67, d90 P=0.68, last day of follow up P=0.68). Deaths were either attributed to COVID-19, or the infection was judged by the treating physician to have contributed to death. CONCLUSIONS Hospitalisation and mortality rates with molnupiravir were comparable to those with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in high-risk patients with haematological malignancies and COVID-19. Molnupiravir is a plausible alternative to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19 treatment in patients with haematological malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Salmanton-García
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Francesco Marchesi
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Philipp Koehler
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
| | - Barbora Weinbergerová
- Department of Internal Medicine - Hematology and Oncology, Masaryk University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natasa Čolović
- University Clinical Center Serbia, Medical Faculty University Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Iker Falces-Romero
- La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain; CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Jens van Praet
- Department of Nephrology and Infectious diseases, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Brugge, Belgium
| | - Monika M Biernat
- Department of Haematology, Blood Neoplasms, and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Federico Itri
- San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital - Orbassano, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Lucia Prezioso
- Hospital University of Parma - Hematology and Bone Marrow Unit, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Tascini
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria del Friuli Centrale, Udine, Italy
| | | | | | - Mario Delia
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, AOUC Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alberto López-García
- Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Health Research Institute IIS-FJD, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana Criscuolo
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Verena Petzer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Ildefonso Espigado
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena - University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS / CSIC), Universidad de Sevilla (Departamento de Medicina), Seville, Spain
| | - Uluhan Sili
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Nurettin Erben
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | | | | | | | - Martin Schönlein
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mirjana Mitrovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic of Hematology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nikola Pantic
- Clinic of Hematology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maria Merelli
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria del Friuli Centrale, Udine, Italy
| | - Jorge Labrador
- Department of Hematology, Research Unit, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain
| | - José-Ángel Hernández-Rivas
- Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain; Departmento de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreas Glenthøj
- Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Caroline Besson
- Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Équipe "Exposome et Hérédité", CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Milena Kohn
- Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Équipe "Exposome et Hérédité", CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Stefanie Gräfe
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany; I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ditte Stampe Hersby
- Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena Arellano
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena - University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS / CSIC), Universidad de Sevilla (Departamento de Medicina), Seville, Spain
| | - Gökçe Melis Çolak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Dominik Wolf
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Monia Marchetti
- Azienda Ospedaliera Nazionale SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Anna Nordlander
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ola Blennow
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raul Cordoba
- Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Health Research Institute IIS-FJD, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bojana Mišković
- Center of Radiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miloš Mladenović
- University Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Alessandro Limongelli
- University Clinical Center Serbia, Medical Faculty University Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Laman Rahimli
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
| | - Livio Pagano
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Hematology Unit, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Oliver A Cornely
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
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23
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Wan EYF, Yan VKC, Wong ZCT, Chui CSL, Lai FTT, Li X, Wong CKH, Hung IFN, Lau CS, Wong ICK, Chan EWY. Effectiveness of molnupiravir vs nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in non-hospitalised and hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a target trial emulation study. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 64:102225. [PMID: 37753272 PMCID: PMC10518465 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir have emerged as promising options for COVID-19 treatment, but direct comparisons of their effectiveness have been limited. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two oral antiviral drugs in non-hospitalised and hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Methods In this target trial emulation study, we used data from a territory-wide electronic health records database on eligible patients aged ≥18 years infected with COVID-19 who were prescribed either molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir within five days of infection between 16 March 2022 and 31 December 2022 in the non-hospitalised and hospitalised settings in Hong Kong. A sequence trial approach and 1:1 propensity score matching was applied based on age, sex, number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received, Charlson comorbidity index, comorbidities, and drug use within past 90 days. Cox regression adjusted with patients' characteristics was used to compare the risk of effectiveness outcomes (all-cause mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission or ventilatory support and hospitalisation) between groups. Subgroup analyses included age (<70; ≥70 years); sex, Charlson comorbidity index (<4; ≥4), and number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received (0-1; ≥2 doses). Findings A total of 63,522 non-hospitalised (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 31,761; molnupiravir: 31,761) and 11,784 hospitalised (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 5892; molnupiravir: 5892) patients were included. In non-hospitalised setting, 336 events of all-cause mortality (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 71, 0.22%; molnupiravir: 265, 0.83%), 162 events of ICU admission or ventilatory support (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 71, 0.22%; molnupiravir: 91, 0.29%), and 4890 events of hospitalisation (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 1853, 5.83%; molnupiravir: 3037, 9.56%) were observed. Lower risks of all-cause mortality (absolute risk reduction (ARR) at 28 days: 0.61%, 95% CI: 0.50-0.72; HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.56) and hospital admission (ARR at 28 days: 3.73%, 95% CI: 3.31-4.14; HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.67-0.76) were observed in nirmatrelvir-ritonavir users compared to molnupiravir users. In hospitalised setting, 509 events of all-cause mortality (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 176, 2.99%; molnupiravir: 333, 5.65%), and 50 events of ICU admission or ventilatory support (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir: 26, 0.44%; molnupiravir: 24, 0.41%) were observed. Risk of all-cause mortality was lower for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir users than for molnupiravir users (ARR at 28 days: 2.66%, 95% CI: 1.93-3.40; HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.71). In both settings, there was no difference in the risk of intensive care unit admission or ventilatory support between groups. The findings were consistent across all subgroup's analyses. Interpretation Our analyses suggest that nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was more effective than molnupiravir in reducing the risk of all-cause mortality in both non-hospitalised and hospitalised patients. When neither drug is contraindicated, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may be considered the more effective option. Funding HMRF Research on COVID-19, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government; Collaborative Research Fund, University Grants Committee, the HKSAR Government; and Research Grant from the Food and Health Bureau, the HKSAR Government; the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H) funded by the AIR@InnoHK administered by Innovation and Technology Commission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Yuk Fai Wan
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vincent Ka Chun Yan
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zoey Cho Ting Wong
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Celine Sze Ling Chui
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xue Li
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Carlos King Ho Wong
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ivan Fan Ngai Hung
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chak Sing Lau
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ian Chi Kei Wong
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Aston Pharmacy School, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
| | - Esther Wai Yin Chan
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
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24
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Marikawa Y, Alarcon VB. An active metabolite of the anti-COVID-19 drug molnupiravir impairs mouse preimplantation embryos at clinically relevant concentrations. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 121:108475. [PMID: 37748715 PMCID: PMC10671791 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Molnupiravir is a nucleoside analog antiviral that is authorized for use in the treatment of COVID-19. For its therapeutic action, molnupiravir is converted after ingestion to the active metabolite N4-hydroxycytidine, which is incorporated into the viral genome to cause lethal mutagenesis. Molnupiravir is not recommended for use during pregnancy, because preclinical animal studies suggest that it is hazardous to developing embryos. However, the mechanisms underlying the embryotoxicity of molnupiravir are currently unknown. To gain mechanistic insights into its embryotoxic action, the effects of molnupiravir and N4-hydroxycytidine were examined on the in vitro development of mouse preimplantation embryos. Molnupiravir did not prevent blastocyst formation even at concentrations that were much higher than the therapeutic plasma levels. By contrast, N4-hyroxycytidine exhibited potent toxicity, as it interfered with blastocyst formation and caused extensive cell death at concentrations below the therapeutic plasma levels. The adverse effects of N4-hydroxycytidine were dependent on the timing of exposure, such that treatment after the 8-cell stage, but not before it, caused embryotoxicity. Transcriptomic analysis of N4-hydroxycytidine-exposed embryos, together with the examination of eIF-2a protein phosphorylation level, suggested that N4-hydroxycytidine induced the integrated stress response. The adverse effects of N4-hydroxycytidine were significantly alleviated by the co-treatment with S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine, suggesting that the embryotoxic potential of N4-hydroxycytidine requires the activity of nucleoside transporters. These findings show that the active metabolite of molnupiravir impairs preimplantation development at clinically relevant concentrations, providing mechanistic foundation for further studies on the embryotoxic potential of molnupiravir and other related nucleoside antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Marikawa
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Vernadeth B Alarcon
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
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25
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Suzuki Y, Shibata Y, Minemura H, Nikaido T, Tanino Y, Fukuhara A, Kanno R, Saito H, Suzuki S, Inokoshi Y, Sando E, Sakuma H, Kobayashi T, Kume H, Kamimoto M, Aoki H, Takama A, Iizuka T, Kamiyama T, Nakayama M, Saito K, Tanigawa K, Sato M, Waragai Y, Kambe T, Kanzaki N, Azuma T, Okamoto H, Sakamoto K, Nakamura Y, Ohtani H, Waragai M, Maeda S, Ishida T, Sugino K, Abe W, Tsukada Y, Lee T, Yamada R, Sato R, Onuma T, Tomita H, Saito M, Watanabe N, Rikimaru M, Kawamata T, Morimoto J, Togawa R, Sato Y, Saito J, Kanazawa K, Hamaguchi S, Iseki K. Real-world clinical outcomes of treatment with molnupiravir for patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 during the Omicron variant pandemic. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:2715-2723. [PMID: 36469171 PMCID: PMC9735004 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00949-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
It is unclear whether molnupiravir has a beneficial effect on vaccinated patients infected with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We here evaluated the efficacy of molnupiravir in patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the Omicron variant surge in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. We enrolled patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were admitted to hospitals between January and April, 2022. Clinical deterioration after admission was compared between molnupiravir users (n = 230) and non-users (n = 690) after 1:3 propensity score matching. Additionally, we performed forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between clinical deterioration after admission and molnupiravir treatment in the 1:3 propensity score-matched subjects. The characteristics of participants in both groups were balanced as indicated by covariates with a standardized mean difference of < 0.1. Regarding comorbidities, there was no imbalance between the two groups, except for the presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiac disease. The clinical deterioration rate was significantly lower in the molnupiravir users compared to the non-users (3.90% vs 8.40%; P = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that receiving molnupiravir was a factor for preventing deterioration (odds ratio 0.448; 95% confidence interval 0.206-0.973; P = 0.042), independent of other covariates. This real-world study demonstrates that molnupiravir contributes to the prevention of deterioration in COVID-19 patients after hospitalization during the Omicron variant phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhito Suzuki
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Yoko Shibata
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Minemura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Takefumi Nikaido
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Tanino
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Atsuro Fukuhara
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ohara General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ryuzo Kanno
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fukushima Red Cross Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Saito
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shuzo Suzuki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yayoi Inokoshi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saiseikai Fukushima General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Eiichiro Sando
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Infectious Diseases, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Sakuma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Kawamata Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tatsuho Kobayashi
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Aizu Chuo Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kume
- Department of Infectious Disease and Respiratory Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kamimoto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Takeda General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hideko Aoki
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Bange Kousei General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akira Takama
- Department of Surgery, Yurin Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Taku Iizuka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yurin Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takamichi Kamiyama
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Iwaki City Medical Center, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakayama
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kashima Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fukushima Rosai Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | - Masahiko Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Soma General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yuichi Waragai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Soma General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kambe
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Norio Kanzaki
- Department of Surgery, Onahama Chuo Clinic, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Teruhisa Azuma
- Department of General Medicine, Shirakawa Satellite for Teaching and Research, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Okamoto
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, Shirakawa Kosei Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keiji Sakamoto
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Hoshi General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yuichi Nakamura
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Hoshi General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohtani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Iwase General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Waragai
- Department of Surgery, Southern TOHOKU General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shinsaku Maeda
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Jusendo General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tokiya Ishida
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keishi Sugino
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tsuboi Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Wataru Abe
- Wakamatsu Infection Leading Clinic, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Tsukada
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Lee
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Ryuki Yamada
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Respiratory Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Riko Sato
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Takumi Onuma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Hikaru Tomita
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Mikako Saito
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Natsumi Watanabe
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Mami Rikimaru
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Takaya Kawamata
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Julia Morimoto
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Togawa
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Yuki Sato
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Respiratory Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Junpei Saito
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kenya Kanazawa
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Sugihiro Hamaguchi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ken Iseki
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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26
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Johnson MG, Strizki JM, Brown ML, Wan H, Shamsuddin HH, Ramgopal M, Florescu DF, Delobel P, Khaertynova I, Flores JF, Fouche LF, Chang SC, Williams-Diaz A, Du J, Grobler JA, Paschke A, De Anda C. Molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 in immunocompromised participants: efficacy, safety, and virology results from the phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled MOVe-OUT trial. Infection 2023; 51:1273-1284. [PMID: 36648627 PMCID: PMC9844162 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immunocompromised patients have a potentially increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 and prolonged replication of SARS-CoV-2. This post hoc analysis examined outcomes among immunocompromised participants in the MOVe-OUT trial. METHODS In phase 3 of MOVe-OUT, non-hospitalized at-risk adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 were randomized to receive molnupiravir 800 mg or placebo twice daily for 5 days. Immunocompromised participants were identified based on prior/concomitant medications and/or medical history. All-cause hospitalization/death, adverse events, SARS-CoV-2 titers, infectivity, and RNA sequences were compared between immunocompromised participants who received molnupiravir or placebo and with non-immunocompromised participants. RESULTS Fifty-five of 1408 participants were considered immunocompromised. Compared to placebo, fewer molnupiravir-treated immunocompromised participants were hospitalized/died through Day 29 (22.6% [7/31] vs. 8.3% [2/24]), with fewer adverse events (45.2% [14/31] vs. 25.0% [6/24]). A larger mean change from baseline in SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed with molnupiravir compared to placebo in non-immunocompromised participants (least squares mean [LSM] difference Day 5: - 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.47 to - 0.15), while the mean change was comparable between treatment groups in immunocompromised participants (LSM difference Day 5: 0.23, 95% CI - 0.71 to 1.17). Molnupiravir treatment was associated with increased clearance of infectious virus. Increased errors in viral nucleotide sequences in post-baseline samples compared to placebo support molnupiravir's mechanism of action and were not associated with observation of novel treatment-emergent amino acid substitutions in immunocompromised participants. CONCLUSION Although the study population was small, these data suggest that molnupiravir treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in non-hospitalized immunocompromised adults is efficacious and safe and quickly reduces infectious SARS-CoV-2. CLINICALTRIALS GOV REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04575597.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hong Wan
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | | | - Moti Ramgopal
- Midway Immunology and Research Center, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | | | - Pierre Delobel
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ilsiyar Khaertynova
- Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital n.a. A.F. Agafonov, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - José F Flores
- Clinica Privada Dr. José Francisco Flores López, Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Leon F Fouche
- Limpopo Clinical Research Initiative, Thabazimbi, South Africa
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27
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Scioscia G, De Pace CC, Giganti G, Tondo P, Foschino Barbaro MP, Lacedonia D. Real life experience of molnupiravir as a treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients: a letter on its effectiveness at preventing hospitalization. Ir J Med Sci 2023; 192:2301-2303. [PMID: 36454535 PMCID: PMC9713130 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-022-03241-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted clinicians to develop an early and effective treatment of viral infections. To date, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and antivirals are the cornerstone of therapy for SARS-CoV-2. AIFA approved the prescription of molnupiravir on 30/12/2021. Molnupiravir is a prodrug that causes the accumulation of errors in the viral genome. METHODS We prescribed molnupiravir to a total of 74 patients in a range between 26 and 96 years old and followed-up them for 30 days. 10 patients affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were treated. RESULTS The follow-up showed that all of the treated patients presented a regression of symptoms. No patients were hospitalized and/or showed sequelae after the infection by SARS-CoV-2, even though the examined population was older and with more co-morbidities than other patients treated with different antivirals. CONCLUSION Molnupiravir is safe and well-tolerated by patients with high-risk of progression to severe COVID. No patients were hospitalized or showed sequelae, including all patients affected by IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Scioscia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | - Cosimo Carlo De Pace
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy.
| | - Giulio Giganti
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tondo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | - Donato Lacedonia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico Foggia" University Hospital, Foggia, Italy
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28
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Prajapati G, Das A, Sun Y, Fonseca E. Hospitalization Among Patients Treated With Molnupiravir: A Retrospective Study of Administrative Data. Clin Ther 2023; 45:957-964. [PMID: 37598055 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral agent authorized for emergency use to treat mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults at high risk for progression to severe clinical outcomes. This study aimed to describe patient characteristics and health outcomes in a cohort of adult patients treated with molnupiravir in an outpatient setting in the United States. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of adults identified in the HealthVerity database with a pharmacy claim for molnupiravir between December 24, 2021, and April 14, 2022. Hospitalization and health care use were assessed over the 28 days after the molnupiravir pharmacy claim. FINDINGS Among 26,554 patients identified, 71.1% were aged ≥50 years and 58.9% were female. A total of 8794 patients (33.1%) had received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The most prevalent risk factors for severe COVID-19 identified were hypertension (45.1%), steroid and/or immunosuppressant use (39.6%), and being obese or overweight (24.6%), with 79.1% of patients having ≥1 risk factor. The majority (61.0%) of patients were prescribed comedications contraindicated with or had the potential for major drug-drug interactions with ritonavir-containing regimens. Within 28 days after initiating molnupiravir, 3.3% of patients were hospitalized for any cause and 1.7% for COVID-19-related reasons. Among all hospitalized patients, 9.2% were admitted to an intensive care unit, 3.9% received oxygen, and 3.8% required mechanical ventilation. IMPLICATIONS The majority of patients treated with molnupiravir in early 2022 had at least one risk factor for severe COVID-19 and had comedications that could require treatment modification or monitoring if given a ritonavir-containing regimen. Hospitalization was uncommon after treatment with molnupiravir, with COVID-19-related inpatient admission in <2% of patients. Among those hospitalized, patient use of intensive care and oxygen-based resources was infrequent. The study design, however, does not permit any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of molnupiravir.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amar Das
- Merck & Co, Inc, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yezhou Sun
- Merck & Co, Inc, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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Chang CH, Peng WY, Lee WH, Lin TY, Yang MH, Dalley JW, Tsai TH. Biotransformation and brain distribution of the anti-COVID-19 drug molnupiravir and herb-drug pharmacokinetic interactions between the herbal extract Scutellaria formula-NRICM101. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 234:115499. [PMID: 37302376 PMCID: PMC10228170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of herbal drug pharmacokinetic interactions on the biotransformation of molnupiravir and its metabolite β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) in the blood and brain. To investigate the biotransformation mechanism, a carboxylesterase inhibitor, bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), was administered. Not only molnupiravir but also the herbal medicine Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 is potentially affected by coadministration with molnupiravir. However, the herb-drug interaction between molnupiravir and the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that the complex bioactive herbal ingredients in the extract of the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101, the biotransformation and penetration of the bloodbrain barrier of molnupiravir are altered by inhibition of carboxylesterase. To monitor the analytes, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLCMS/MS) coupled with the microdialysis method was developed. Based on the dose transfer from humans to rats, a dose of molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.), molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.) + BNPP (50 mg/kg, i.v.), and molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.) + the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 extract (1.27 g/kg, per day, for 5 consecutive days) were administered. The results showed that molnupiravir was rapidly metabolized to NHC and penetrated into the brain striatum. However, when concomitant with BNPP, NHC was suppressed, and molnupiravir was enhanced. The blood-to-brain penetration ratios were 2% and 6%, respectively. In summary, the extract of the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 provides a pharmacological effect similar to that of the carboxylesterase inhibitor to suppress NHC in the blood, and the brain penetration ratio was increased, but the concentration is also higher than the effective concentration in the blood and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hao Chang
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ya Peng
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Hsin Lee
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Yi Lin
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Muh-Hwa Yang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Tung-Hu Tsai
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan.
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Chang CH, Peng WY, Lee WH, Lin TY, Yang MH, Dalley JW, Tsai TH. Transfer and biotransformation of the COVID-19 prodrug molnupiravir and its metabolite β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine across the blood-placenta barrier. EBioMedicine 2023; 95:104748. [PMID: 37544201 PMCID: PMC10427982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molnupiravir is an orally bioavailable prodrug of the nucleoside analogue β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) and is used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the pharmacokinetics and transplacental transfer of molnupiravir in pregnant women are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that molnupiravir and NHC cross the blood-placenta barrier into the fetus. METHODS A multisite microdialysis coupled with a validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‒MS/MS) system was developed to monitor the dialysate levels of molnupiravir and NHC in maternal rat blood and conceptus (the collective term for the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid). Molnupiravir was administered intravenously (100 mg/kg, i.v.) on gestational day 16. To investigate the mechanism of transport of molnupiravir across the blood-placenta barrier, we coadministered nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR, 10 mg/kg, i.v.) to inhibit equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT). FINDINGS We report that molnupiravir is rapidly metabolized to NHC and then rapidly transformed in the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, and maternal blood. Our pharmacokinetics analysis revealed that the area under the concentration curve (AUC) for the mother-to-fetus ratio (AUCfetus/AUCblood) of NHC was 0.29 ± 0.11. Further, we demonstrated that the transport of NHC in the placenta may not be subject to modulation by the ENT. INTERPRETATION Our results show that NHC is the predominant bioactive metabolite of molnupiravir and rapidly crosses the blood-placenta barrier in pregnant rats. The NHC concentration in maternal blood and conceptus was above the average median inhibitory concentration (IC50) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), suggesting a therapeutic effect. These findings support the use of molnupiravir in pregnant patients infected with COVID. FUNDING This study was supported in part by research grants from the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (NSTC 111-2113-M-A49-018 and NSTC 112-2321-B-A49-005).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hao Chang
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ya Peng
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Hsin Lee
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Yi Lin
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Muh-Hwa Yang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Tung-Hu Tsai
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
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Torti C, Olimpieri PP, Bonfanti P, Tascini C, Celant S, Tacconi D, Nicastri E, Tacconelli E, Cacopardo B, Perrella A, Buccoliero GB, Parruti G, Bassetti M, Biagetti C, Giacometti A, Erne EM, Frontuto M, Lanzafame M, Summa V, Spagnoli A, Vestri A, Di Perri G, Russo P, Palù G. Real-life comparison of mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection at risk for clinical progression treated with molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir during the Omicron era in Italy: a nationwide, cohort study. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2023; 31:100684. [PMID: 37547273 PMCID: PMC10398591 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Comparative data on mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with molnupiravir or with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir are inconclusive. We therefore compared all-cause mortality in community-dwelling COVID-19 patients treated with these drugs during the Omicron era. Methods Data collected in the nationwide, population-based, cohort of patients registered in the database of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) were used. To increase completeness of the recorded deaths and date correctness, a cross-check with the National Death Registry provided by the Ministry of the Interior was performed. We included in this study all patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 treated within 5 days after the test date and symptom onset between February 8 and April 30, 2022. All-cause mortalities by day 28 were compared between the two treatment groups after balancing for baseline characteristics using weights obtained from a gradient boosting machine algorithm. Findings In the considered timeframe, 17,977 patients treated with molnupiravir and 11,576 patients with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir were included in the analysis. Most patients (25,617/29,553 = 86.7%) received a full vaccine course including the booster dose. A higher crude incidence rate of all-cause mortality was found among molnupiravir users (51.83 per 100,000 person-days), compared to nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir users (22.29 per 100,000 person-days). However, molnupiravir-treated patients were older than those treated with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir and differences between the two populations were found as far as types of co-morbidities were concerned. For this reason, we compared the weight-adjusted cumulative incidences using the Aalen estimator and found that the adjusted cumulative incidence rates were 1.23% (95% CI 1.07%-1.38%) for molnupiravir-treated and 0.78% (95% CI 0.58%-0.98%) for nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir-treated patients (adjusted log rank p = 0.0002). Moreover, the weight-adjusted mixed-effect Cox model including Italian regions and NHS centers as random effects and treatment as the only covariate confirmed a significant reduced risk of death in patients treated with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir. Lastly, a significant reduction in the risk of death associated with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir was confirmed in patient subgroups, such as in females, fully vaccinated patients, those treated within day 2 since symptom onset and patients without (haemato)-oncological diseases. Interpretation Early initiation of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir was associated for the first time with a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality by day 28 compared to molnupiravir, both in the overall population and in patient subgroups, including those fully vaccinated with the booster dose. Funding This study did not receive funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Torti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Olimpieri
- Italian Medicines Agency, Via del Tritone 181, 00187 Rome, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonfanti
- Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Carlo Tascini
- Department of Medicine (DAME), Infectious Diseases Clinic, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Simone Celant
- Italian Medicines Agency, Via del Tritone 181, 00187 Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Tacconi
- Department of Specialised and Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, San Donato Hospital, Arezzo, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- National Institute for Infectious Disease Lazzaron Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Tacconelli
- Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Bruno Cacopardo
- Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandro Perrella
- Division Emerging Infectious Disease and High Contagiousness, D. Cotugno Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giustino Parruti
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Unit, Pescara General Hospital, Pescara, Italy
| | - Matteo Bassetti
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Policlinico San Martino Hospital—IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carlo Biagetti
- Unit of Infectious disease Infermi Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Rimini, Italy
| | - Andrea Giacometti
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Elke Maria Erne
- Department of Infectious Disease, Azienda Sanitaria dell’Alto Adige, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Italy
| | - Maria Frontuto
- Infectious Diseases Unit, A.O.R. San Carlo, Potenza, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Summa
- Italian Medicines Agency, Via del Tritone 181, 00187 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Spagnoli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annarita Vestri
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Perri
- Department of Medical Sciences at the Unit of Infectious Diseases, University of Torino, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Russo
- Italian Medicines Agency, Via del Tritone 181, 00187 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Italian Medicines Agency, Via del Tritone 181, 00187 Rome, Italy
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Gao Y, Liu M, Li Z, Xu J, Zhang J, Tian J. Molnupiravir for treatment of adults with mild or moderate COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:979-999. [PMID: 37084941 PMCID: PMC10116122 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of molnupiravir in treating patients with non-severe COVID-19 remain uncertain. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and WHO COVID-19 database up to 27 December 2022. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials with no language restrictions. PARTICIPANTS Adults with mild or moderate COVID-19. INTERVENTIONS Molnupiravir against standard care or placebo. ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF BIAS We used a revision of RoB-2 criteria. METHODS OF DATA SYNTHESIS Outcomes were mortality, hospital admission, viral clearance, time to viral clearance, time to symptom resolution or clinical improvement, any adverse events, and serious adverse events. We performed DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analyses to summarize the evidence and evaluated the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS Nine randomized controlled trials enrolling 30 472 patients proved eligible. Majority of patients were outpatients, with a mean age ranging from 35 to 56.6 years. In adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, molnupiravir probably reduces mortality (relative risk [RR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.94; risk difference [RD], 0.1% fewer; moderate certainty) and the risk of hospital admission (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.99; RD, 1.4% fewer; moderate certainty) and may reduce time to viral clearance (mean difference, -1.81 days; 95% CI, -3.31 to -0.31; low certainty) and time to symptom resolution or clinical improvement (mean difference, -2.39 days; 95% CI, -3.71 to -1.07; low certainty). Molnupiravir probably increases the rate of viral clearance (RR, 3.47; 95% CI, 2.43-4.96; RD 16.1% more; moderate certainty) at 7 days (±3 days) and likely does not increase serious adverse events (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.61-1.15; RD 0.1% fewer; moderate certainty). CONCLUSIONS In adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, molnupiravir likely reduces mortality and risk of hospital admission probably without increasing serious adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Gao
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ming Liu
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Zhifan Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhua Zhang
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinhui Tian
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
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Mali KR, Eerike M, Raj GM, Bisoi D, Priyadarshini R, Ravi G, Chaliserry LF, Janti SS. Efficacy and safety of Molnupiravir in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review. Ir J Med Sci 2023; 192:1665-1678. [PMID: 36087236 PMCID: PMC9463664 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-022-03139-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral drug that received Emergency Use Authorization in three countries for the treatment of mild COVID-19. The aim of this systematic review was to find out the safety and efficacy of Molnupiravir in SARS-COV-2 infections. METHODS The electronic databases such as PubMed, MedRxiv, BioRxiv, FDA, ClinicalTrials.Gov, ctri.nic.in and Google Scholar were searched for articles from January 2021 to March 2022 using the keywords such as "Molnupiravir", "COVID-19", "Oral antiviral pill", "MK-4482", "EIDD-280", "Efficacy" and "Safety". Details of published, unpublished with interim reports and ongoing studies of Molnupiravir in COVID-19 were retrieved, and a systematic review was performed. RESULTS A total of 6 articles and 18 ongoing trials data were collected. Out of these, data from 4 published and 2 unpublished with interim reports were extracted. After review of these studies, it was observed that the daily dose of 1600 mg Molnupiravir for 5 days was safe and tolerable with nausea, diarrhea and headache as the common adverse effects. The results also showed significant decrease in time to viral clearance with 800 mg twice daily in mild patients and reduction in the risk of hospitalization or death by 50% in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION Evidence from clinical studies showed that Molnupiravir caused significant reduction in the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk mild COVID-19 patients. Molnupiravir was also found to be well tolerated and safe without any major adverse events on short-term use. For confirmative use of this drug in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease, further studies are required in vaccinated COVID-19 patients and against emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Ramanna Mali
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Madhavi Eerike
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Gerard Marshall Raj
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Debasis Bisoi
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Rekha Priyadarshini
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Gandham Ravi
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Leo Francis Chaliserry
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
| | - Siddharam S. Janti
- Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences–Bibinagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 508126 India
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Hosogaya N, Takazono T, Kurazono K, Hiroi S, Iwasaki K, Takeshima T, Ha C, Mukae H. Estimation of Intangible Costs for Factors Associated with Oral Antiviral Drugs for COVID-19 Treatment: A Conjoint Analysis in Japan. Adv Ther 2023; 40:3525-3542. [PMID: 37303032 PMCID: PMC10258079 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-023-02564-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, preferences for factors associated with vaccines have been evaluated. Three oral antiviral drugs have been approved in Japan for patients with mild-to-moderate I COVID-19 symptoms. Although preferences for the drugs may also depend on various factors, these have not been fully evaluated. METHODS A conjoint analysis was performed based on an online survey in August 2022 to estimate the intangible costs of factors associated with oral antiviral drugs for COVID-19. Respondents were individuals aged 20-69 across Japan. The attributes included the company (Japanese/foreign) that developed the drug, formulation and size of the drug, frequency of administration per day, number of tablets/capsules per dose, number of days until no longer infectious to others, and out-of-pocket expenses. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the utility of each level for each attribute. The intangible costs were calculated by comparing the utility to the out-of-pocket attribute. RESULTS Responses were collected from 11,303 participants. The difference between levels was the largest for companies that developed a drug; the intangible costs were JPY 5390 higher for the foreign company than for the Japanese company. The next largest difference was in the number of days until one is no longer infectious. For the same formulation, the intangible cost was lower for small sizes than large sizes. For similar-sized tablets and capsules, the intangible cost was lower for tablets than capsules. These tendencies were similar regardless of COVID-19 infection history and the presence of risk factors for severe COVID-19 in the respondents. CONCLUSION Intangible costs for factors associated with oral antiviral drugs among the Japanese population were estimated. The results may change as the number of people with a history of COVID-19 infection increases and significant progress is made regarding treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Hosogaya
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
- Clinical Research Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takahiro Takazono
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
| | | | - Shinzo Hiroi
- Medical Affairs, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Hiroshi Mukae
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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Takashita E, Fujisaki S, Morita H, Nagata S, Miura H, Nagashima M, Watanabe S, Takeda M, Kawaoka Y, Hasegawa H. Assessment of the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant escape from RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors and 3C-like protease inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2023:105671. [PMID: 37451629 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antiviral-resistant SARS-CoV-2 is of great concern. In this study, we evaluated the propensity of Omicron variants to escape from RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) inhibitors and 3C-like protease (3CLpro) inhibitors. SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants were serially passaged in vitro in the presence of RdRP inhibitors (remdesivir and molnupiravir) and 3CLpro inhibitors (nirmatrelvir and lufotrelvir) to detect SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants. After five passages with 3CLpro inhibitors, mutant viruses that escaped from 3CLpro inhibitors emerged; however, in the presence of RdRP inhibitors all variants disappeared within 2-4 passages. Our findings suggest that the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 mutant escape from RdRP inhibitors is lower than that from 3CLpro inhibitors. We also found that Delta variants were more likely to acquire amino acid substitutions associated with resistance to 3CLpro inhibitors under the selective pressure of this drug compared with Omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Takashita
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan.
| | - Seiichiro Fujisaki
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Hiroko Morita
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Shiho Nagata
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Hideka Miura
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Mami Nagashima
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Shinji Watanabe
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
| | - Makoto Takeda
- Department of Virology Ⅲ, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan; Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan; Research Center for Global Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Research Institute, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan; Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 575 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA; The University of Tokyo, Pandemic Preparedness, Infection, and Advanced Research Center, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Hasegawa
- Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, 208-0011, Japan
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Bakos É, Temesszentandrási-Ambrus C, Özvegy-Laczka C, Gáborik Z, Sarkadi B, Telbisz Á. Interactions of the Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agents Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/Paxlovid with Human Drug Transporters. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11237. [PMID: 37510996 PMCID: PMC10379611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Orally administered small molecules may have important therapeutic potential in treating COVID-19 disease. The recently developed antiviral agents, Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir, have been reported to be efficient treatments, with only moderate side effects, especially when applied in the early phases of this disease. However, drug-drug and drug-transporter interactions have already been noted by the drug development companies and in the application notes. In the present work, we have studied some of the key human transporters interacting with these agents. The nucleoside analog Molnupiravir (EIDD-2801) and its main metabolite (EIDD-1931) were found to inhibit CNT1,2 in addition to the ENT1,2 nucleoside transporters; however, it did not significantly influence the relevant OATP transporters or the ABCC4 nucleoside efflux transporter. The active component of Paxlovid (PF-07321332, Nirmatrelvir) inhibited the function of several OATPs and of ABCB1 but did not affect ABCG2. However, significant inhibition was observed only at high concentrations of Nirmatrelvir and probably did not occur in vivo. Paxlovid, as used in the clinic, is a combination of Nirmatrelvir (viral protease inhibitor) and Ritonavir (a "booster" inhibitor of Nirmatrelvir metabolism). Ritonavir is known to inhibit several drug transporters; therefore, we have examined these compounds together, in relevant concentrations and ratios. No additional inhibitory effect of Nirmatrelvir was observed compared to the strong transporter inhibition caused by Ritonavir. Our current in vitro results should help to estimate the potential drug-drug interactions of these newly developed agents during COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Bakos
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences-RCNS, Magyar Tudósok krt 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Csilla Özvegy-Laczka
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences-RCNS, Magyar Tudósok krt 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Gáborik
- Charles River Laboratories, Irinyi József u. 4-20, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Sarkadi
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences-RCNS, Magyar Tudósok krt 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Telbisz
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences-RCNS, Magyar Tudósok krt 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Ye L, Fan S, Zhao P, Wu C, Liu M, Hu S, Wang P, Wang H, Bi H. Potential herb‒drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023:S2211-3835(23)00203-4. [PMID: 37360014 PMCID: PMC10239737 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. Effective treatments against COVID-19 remain urgently in need although vaccination significantly reduces the incidence, hospitalization, and mortality. At present, antiviral drugs including Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (PaxlovidTM), Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir have been authorized to treat COVID-19 and become more globally available. On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of epidemic diseases for a long history. Currently, various TCM formulae against COVID-19 such as Qingfei Paidu decoction, Xuanfei Baidu granule, Huashi Baidu granule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule, and Xuebijing injection have been widely used in clinical practice in China, which may cause potential herb-drug interactions (HDIs) in patients under treatment with antiviral drugs and affect the efficacy and safety of medicines. However, information on potential HDIs between the above anti-COVID-19 drugs and TCM formulae is lacking, and thus this work seeks to summarize and highlight potential HDIs between antiviral drugs and TCM formulae against COVID-19, and especially pharmacokinetic HDIs mediated by metabolizing enzymes and/or transporters. These well-characterized HDIs could provide useful information on clinical concomitant medicine use to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize adverse and toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ye
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Shicheng Fan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Pengfei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou 510006,China
| | - Chenghua Wu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Menghua Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Shuang Hu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Peng Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Hongyu Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Huichang Bi
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
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Fujita K, Kanai O, Hata H, Ishigami K, Nanba K, Esaka N, Seta K, Mio T, Odagaki T. Comparison of the acceptability and safety of molnupiravir in COVID-19 patients aged over and under 80 years. Aging Health Res 2023; 3:100130. [PMID: 36919008 PMCID: PMC9985534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahr.2023.100130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Molnupiravir is being widely used as a treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, its acceptability and safety in older patients aged ≥ 80 years in real-world clinical practice is not well understood. Methods We conducted a single-centre retrospective study and assessed the outcome of patients with COVID-19 treated with molnupiravir according to the following criteria: (A) discontinuation rate of molnupiravir; (B) type, frequency, and severity of adverse events; (C) all-cause mortality within 30 days of the diagnosis of COVID-19. Results Forty-seven patients (46.1%) were aged ≥ 80 years (older patients) and 55 (53.9%) were aged < 80 years (younger patients). There were no significant differences in coexisting diseases and history of vaccination for COVID-19 between older and younger patients. Older patients were significantly more likely to have moderate disease (moderate 1 and 2) according to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare classification than younger patients. During treatment, 8.5% of older patients and 1.8% of younger patients stopped taking molnupiravir, but the difference was not significant. Adverse events were observed in 39/102 (38.2%) patients. The most common adverse events were diarrhoea (9.8%), exacerbation of coexisting diseases (6.9%), bone marrow suppression (6.9%), liver dysfunction (5.9%), and loss of appetite (4.9%). Most adverse events were minor, ranging from grades 1 to 3. The all-cause mortality rate was 10.8%, and no molnupiravir-related deaths were observed. Conclusions Molnupiravir treatment is acceptable and safe in older patients with COVID-19 aged ≥ 80 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Fujita
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Division of Respiratory Medicine, Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Osamu Kanai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Division of Respiratory Medicine, Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hata
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Ishigami
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Nanba
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Esaka
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koichi Seta
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Nephrology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tadashi Mio
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.,COVID-19 Response Headquarters, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takao Odagaki
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
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Cho J, Shin Y, Yang JS, Kim JW, Kim KC, Lee JY. Evaluation of antiviral drugs against newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants. Antiviral Res 2023; 214:105609. [PMID: 37086978 PMCID: PMC10118056 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants and their rapid worldwide spread pose a threat to public health. From November 2022 to February 2023, newly emerged Omicron subvariants, including BQ.1.1, BF.7, BA.5.2, XBB.1, XBB.1.5, and BN.1.9, became prevalent global strains (>5% global prevalence). These Omicron subvariants are resistant to several therapeutic antibodies. Thus, the antiviral activity of current drugs such as remdesivir, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir, which target highly conserved regions of SARS-CoV-2, against newly emerged Omicron subvariants need to be evaluated. We assessed the antiviral efficacy of the drugs using the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) against human isolates of 23 Omicron subvariants and four former SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) and compared it with the antiviral efficacy of these drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 reference strain (hCoV/Korea/KCDC03/2020). Maximal IC50-fold changes of remdesivir, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir were 1.9 (BA.2.75.2), 1.2 (B.1.627.2), and 1.4 (BA.2.3), respectively, compared to median IC50 values of the reference strain. Moreover, median IC50-fold changes of remdesivir, molnupiravir, and nirmatrelvir against the Omicron variants were 0.96, 0.4, and 0.62, respectively, similar to the 1.02, 0.88, and 0.67, respectively, median IC50-fold changes for previous VOCs. Although K90R and P132H in Nsp 5, and P323L, A529V, G671S, V405F, and ins823D in Nsp 12 mutations were identified, these amino acid substitutions did not affect drug antiviral activity. These results indicate that current antivirals retain antiviral efficacy against newly emerged Omicron subvariants. It is important to continue active surveillance and testing of new variants for drug resistance to enable early identification of drug-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Cho
- Division of Emerging Viral Diseases and Vector Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Younmin Shin
- Division of Emerging Viral Diseases and Vector Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Sun Yang
- Division of Emerging Viral Diseases and Vector Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Won Kim
- Division of Emerging Viral Diseases and Vector Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Chang Kim
- Division of Emerging Viral Diseases and Vector Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
| | - Joo-Yeon Lee
- Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
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Radcliffe C, Malinis M, Azar MM. Antiviral Treatment of Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pneumonia. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:279-297. [PMID: 37085220 PMCID: PMC9701636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Direct acting antivirals and monoclonal antibodies reduce morbidity and mortality associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Persons at higher risk for disease progression and hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) benefit most from available therapies. Following an emphasis on inpatient treatment of COVID-19 during the early pandemic, several therapeutic options were developed for outpatients with COVID-19. Additional clinical trials and real-world studies are needed to keep pace with the evolving pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Radcliffe
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Maricar Malinis
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Marwan M Azar
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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41
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Gamal Fawzy M, Kamel EB. Sustainable Stability-Indicating spectra manipulations for the concurrent quantification of a novel Anti-COVID-19 drug and its active Metabolite: Green profile assessment. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2023; 300:122911. [PMID: 37267836 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Millions of individuals have lost their lives and changed their routines as a direct consequence of exposure to the coronavirus (Covid-19). Molnupiravir (MOL) is an orally bioavailable tiny molecule antiviral prodrug that is effective for curing the coronavirus that produces serious acute respiratory disorder (SARS-CoV-2). Fully green-assessed stability-indicating simple spectrophotometric methods have been developed and fully validated as per ICH criteria. The potential impact of degradation products of drug components on the safety and efficacy of a medication's shelf life is likely to be negligible. The field of pharmaceutical analysis necessitates various stability testing under different conditions. The conduct of such inquiries affords the prospect of predicting the most probable routes of degradation and ascertaining the inherent stability characteristics of the active drugs. Consequently, a surge in demand arose for the creation of an analytical methodology that could consistently measure the degradation products and/or impurities that may be present in pharmaceuticals. Herein, five smart and simple spectrophotometric data manipulation techniques have been produced for the concurrent estimation of MOL and its active metabolite as its possible acid degradation product namely; N-hydroxycytidine (NHC). Structure confirmation of NHC build-up through IR, MS and NMR analyses. All current techniques verified linearity ranging from 10 to 150 μg/ml and 10-60 μg/ml for MOL and NHC, respectively. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) values were in the range of 4.21-9.59 μg/ml, while the limit of detection (LOD) values were ranging from 1.38 - 3.16 μg/ml. The current methods were evaluated in terms of greenness by four assessing methods and confirmed to be green. The significant novelty of these methods depends on their being the first environmentally soundness stability-indicating spectrophotometric approaches for the concurrent estimation of MOL and its active metabolite, NHC. Also, the preparation of purified NHC delivers significant cost savings, instead of purchasing an expensive ingredient. These smart methods were utilized for analyzing the pharmaceutical dosage form which may be of great benefit to the pharmaceutical market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gamal Fawzy
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ebraam B Kamel
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt.
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Cegolon L, Pol R, Simonetti O, Larese Filon F, Luzzati R. Molnupiravir, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, or Sotrovimab for High-Risk COVID-19 Patients Infected by the Omicron Variant: Hospitalization, Mortality, and Time until Negative Swab Test in Real Life. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:721. [PMID: 37242504 PMCID: PMC10221734 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Several drugs which are easy to administer in outpatient settings have been authorized and endorsed for high-risk COVID-19 patients with mild-moderate disease to prevent hospital admission and death, complementing COVID-19 vaccines. However, the evidence on the efficacy of COVID-19 antivirals during the Omicron wave is scanty or conflicting. Methods. This retrospective controlled study investigated the efficacy of Molnupiravir or Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid®) or Sotrovimab against standard of care (controls) on three different endpoints among 386 high-risk COVID-19 outpatients: hospital admission at 30 days; death at 30 days; and time between COVID-19 diagnosis and first negative swab test result. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to investigate the determinants of hospitalization due to COVID-19-associated pneumonia, whereas time to first negative swab test result was investigated by means of multinomial logistic analysis as well as Cox regression analysis. Results. Only 11 patients (overall rate of 2.8%) developed severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia requiring admission to hospital: 8 controls (7.2%); 2 patients on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (2.0%); and 1 on Sotrovimab (1.8%). No patient on Molnupiravir was institutionalized. Compared to controls, hospitalization was less likely for patients on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (aOR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03; 0.89) or Molnupiravir (omitted estimate); drug efficacy was 84% for Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir against 100% for Molnupiravir. Only two patients died of COVID-19 (rate of 0.5%), both were controls, one (a woman aged 96 years) was unvaccinated and the other (a woman aged 72 years) had adequate vaccination status. At Cox regression analysis, the negativization rate was significantly higher in patients treated with both antivirals-Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (aHR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.25; 2.26) or Molnupiravir (aHR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.08; 1.94). However, COVID-19 vaccination with three (aHR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.51; 2.73) or four (aHR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.32; 4.68) doses had a slightly stronger effect size on viral clearance. In contrast, the negativization rate reduced significantly in patients who were immune-depressed (aHR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52; 0.93) or those with a Charlson index ≥5 (aHR = 0.63; 0.41; 0.95) or those who had started the respective treatment course 3+ days after COVID-19 diagnosis (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38; 0.82). Likewise, at internal analysis (excluding patients on standard of care), patients on Molnupiravir (aHR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.21; 2.50) or Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (aHR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.32; 2.93) were more likely to turn negative earlier than those on Sotrovimab (reference category). Nonetheless, three (aHR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.33; 2.74) or four (aHR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.06; 4.59) doses of COVID-19 vaccine were again associated with a faster negativization rate. Again, the negativization rate was significantly lower if treatment started 3+ days after COVID-19 diagnosis (aHR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.32; 0.92). Conclusions. Molnupiravir, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, and Sotrovimab were all effective in preventing hospital admission and/or mortality attributable to COVID-19. However, hospitalizations also decreased with higher number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Although they are effective against severe disease and mortality, the prescription of COVID-19 antivirals should be carefully scrutinized by double opinion, not only to contain health care costs but also to reduce the risk of generating resistant SARS-CoV-2 strains. Only 64.7% of patients were in fact immunized with 3+ doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the present study. High-risk patients should prioritize COVID-19 vaccination, which is a more cost-effective approach than antivirals against severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Likewise, although both antivirals, especially Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, were more likely than standard of care and Sotrovimab to reduce viral shedding time (VST) in high-risk SARS-CoV-2 patients, vaccination had an independent and stronger effect on viral clearance. However, the effect of antivirals or COVID-19 vaccination on VST should be considered a secondary benefit. Indeed, recommending Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in order to control VST in high-risk COVID-19 patients is rather questionable since other cheap, large spectrum and harmless nasal disinfectants such as hypertonic saline solutions are available on the market with proven efficacy in containing VST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Cegolon
- Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34147 Trieste, Italy; (F.L.F.); (R.L.)
- Occupational Medicine Unit, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), 34129 Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pol
- Infectious Disease Unit, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), 34129 Trieste, Italy; (R.P.)
| | - Omar Simonetti
- Infectious Disease Unit, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), 34129 Trieste, Italy; (R.P.)
| | - Francesca Larese Filon
- Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34147 Trieste, Italy; (F.L.F.); (R.L.)
- Occupational Medicine Unit, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), 34129 Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberto Luzzati
- Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34147 Trieste, Italy; (F.L.F.); (R.L.)
- Infectious Disease Unit, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), 34129 Trieste, Italy; (R.P.)
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Bekheit MS, Panda SS, Girgis AS. Potential RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors as prospective drug candidates for SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 252:115292. [PMID: 36965227 PMCID: PMC10023213 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is considered as one of the most disastrous pandemics for human health and the world economy. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is one of the key enzymes that control viral replication. RdRp is an attractive and promising therapeutic target for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 disease. It has attracted much interest of medicinal chemists, especially after the approval of Remdesivir. This study highlights the most promising SARS-CoV-2 RdRp repurposed drugs in addition to natural and synthetic agents. Although many in silico predicted agents have been developed, the lack of in vitro and in vivo experimental data has hindered their application in drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed S Bekheit
- Department of Pesticide Chemistry, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
| | - Siva S Panda
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
| | - Adel S Girgis
- Department of Pesticide Chemistry, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
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Kimata M, Watanabe A, Yanagida Y, Kinoshita D, Maekawa S. Safety and Effectiveness of Molnupiravir (LAGEVRIO ®) Capsules in Japanese Patients with COVID-19: Interim Report of Post-marketing Surveillance in Japan. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:1119-1136. [PMID: 36928787 PMCID: PMC10018610 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00782-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral drug that received special approval for emergency use in Japan on December 24 2021 for infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This post-marketing surveillance (PMS) is underway to investigate the safety and effectiveness of molnupiravir in daily clinical practice in Japan. The interim PMS data collected from December 27 2021 to June 15 2022 are reported in this publication. METHODS This survey included adult Japanese patients treated with molnupiravir. For safety, adverse drug reactions (ADR) were assessed by physicians. Effectiveness was assessed by the composite endpoint of (1) hospitalization or (2) death in outpatients and by the composite endpoint of (3) death or (4) initiation of oxygen administration/mechanical ventilation in inpatients hospitalized for any reasons and without oxygen administration at the start of molnupiravir administration. The observation period was through 29 days from the start of molnupiravir administration. RESULTS Of the 1031 patients in the safety analysis set, 68 (6.60%) patients reported ADRs and four (0.39%) patients reported serious ADRs. The main ADRs observed were diarrhoea [26 patients (2.52%)], rash [six patients (0.58%)], dizziness [five patients (0.48%)], and faeces soft [four patients (0.39%)]. In the effectiveness analysis from the start date of molnupiravir administration to day 29, there were 16/612 (2.61%) hospitalizations and no deaths. Oxygen administration was newly initiated in 9/199 (4.52%) inpatients after the initiation of molnupiravir administration; 2/199 (1.01%) inpatients died. CONCLUSION This interim analysis of molnupiravir in daily clinical practice use in Japan supports the safety and effectiveness profile of molnupiravir under pandemic conditions in which Omicron was the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. The results of this PMS will provide valuable information for daily clinical practice use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Kimata
- Medical Affairs MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan.
| | - Asuka Watanabe
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Yukiko Yanagida
- Medical Affairs MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kinoshita
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
| | - Shinichiroh Maekawa
- Pharmacovigilance MSD K.K., Kitanomaru Square, 1-13-12 Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8667, Japan
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Mohamed AR, Abolmagd E, Nour IM, Badrawy M, Hasan MA. Earth-friendly-assessed silver-nanoparticles spectrophotometric method for rapid and sensitive analysis of Molnupiravir, an FDA-approved candidate for COVID-19: application on pharmaceutical formulation and dissolution test. BMC Chem 2023; 17:13. [PMID: 36899439 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-023-00933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir is the first oral direct-acting antiviral prodrug recently approved for the COVID-19 pandemic. Here and for the first time, we present a novel, sensitive, robust, and simple silver-nanoparticles spectrophotometric technique for molnupiravir analysis in its capsules and dissolution media. This spectrophotometric technique involved silver-nanoparticles synthesis through a redox reaction between the reducing agent (molnupiravir) and the oxidizing agent (silver nitrate) in presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizing agent. The produced silver-nanoparticles have an intense surface plasmon resonance peak at 416 nm where the measured absorbance values were utilized for the quantitative analysis of molnupiravir. The produced silver-nanoparticles were recognized by using the transmission electron microscope. Under optimal conditions, a good linear rapport was accomplished between molnupiravir concentrations and the corresponding absorbance values in a range of (100-2000) ng/mL with a detection limit of 30 ng/mL. Greenness assessment was implemented using eco-scale scoring and GAPI disclosing the excellent greenness of the suggested technique. The suggested silver-nanoparticles technique was authenticated according to recommendations of the ICH and statistically assessed with the reported liquid chromatographic method without significant differences regarding accuracy or precision. Accordingly, the suggested technique is deemed a green and cheap alternative for assaying molnupiravir due to its reliance primarily on water. Furthermore, the suggested technique's high sensitivity can be employed for investigating molnupiravir bioequivalence in future studies.
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Gentry CA, Nguyen P, Thind SK, Kurdgelashvili G, Williams RJ. Characteristics and outcomes of US Veterans at least 65 years of age at high risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection with or without receipt of oral antiviral agents. J Infect 2023; 86:248-255. [PMID: 36702309 PMCID: PMC9870610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir each became available in the United States (US) through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) in December 2021 after their respective initial prospective randomized controlled trials demonstrated efficacy for patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 active infection considered to be at high risk for progression of disease and hospitalization. Although sufficiently powered for this wide group, the mean age for patients in these studies was only 43 and 46 years of age, respectively. We sought to compare outcomes of US Veterans 65 years and older who received either of these oral antivirals to those who did not receive oral antivirals for mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 active infection. METHODS The current project was a retrospective, observational, nationwide propensity-matched analysis comparing outcomes of US Veterans 65 years and older who received either of these oral antivirals to US Veterans 65 years and older who did not receive oral antivirals for mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 active infection. RESULTS The composite primary outcome of admission or death within 30 days of diagnosis was reached less often in those receiving either molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir versus those that received no antiviral (65/1370 [4.75%] vs. 139/1370 [10.2%]; odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.60, p<0.0001). Baseline differences between Veterans selected for molnupiravir vs. nirmatrelvir/ritonavir therapy were noted, particularly in the number of concomitant medications with cautions or contraindications with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the use of molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients 65 years of age and older. Patients with higher medication caution and contraindication burdens to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir are selected for molnupiravir therapy, which in the absence of a prospective head-to-head trial, may limit any efforts to compare the effectiveness of the two drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris A Gentry
- Pharmacy Service, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 921 Northeast 13th Street (119), Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
| | - Phoi Nguyen
- PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, Pharmacy Service, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sharanjeet K Thind
- Infectious Diseases, Medical Service, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - George Kurdgelashvili
- Medical Service, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Riley J Williams
- Infectious Diseases, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Weiss G. Who should receive oral antiviral therapy for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in the omicron era? Choose wisely. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:281-283. [PMID: 36496153 PMCID: PMC9728013 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guenter Weiss
- Medical University of Innsbruck, Internal Medicine II, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Friedman DZP, Pettit NN, MacKenzie E, Pisano J. Current and Emerging Therapies for COVID-19 in Lung Transplantation. Curr Pulmonol Rep 2023;:1-13. [PMID: 36820015 DOI: 10.1007/s13665-023-00302-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The landscape of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly changed over the past 3 years. Paralleling this evolution, the scientific and medical communities have reported many novel findings relating to the infection's epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. We review pertinent studies of COVID-19 therapeutics with an emphasis on their application to lung transplant recipients. Recent Findings Agents that have been well-studied for treating COVID-19 include antivirals (remdesivir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir), monoclonal antibodies, and immunomodulators (for example, corticosteroids and tocilizumab). Summary Remdesivir remains an essential therapy for managing mild-moderate COVID-19. Though highly efficacious for mild-moderate COVID-19 for outpatient therapy, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir has limited use in lung transplant recipients due to significant drug-drug interactions. Monoclonal antibodies, though useful, are the most affected by the emergence of new viral variants.
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Srisubat A, Thanasitthichai S, Kongsaengdao S, Maneeton N, Maneeton B, Akksilp S. Effectiveness of Favipiravir monotherapy in the treatment of COVID-19: Real world data analysis from Thailand. Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia 2023;:100166. [PMID: 36776761 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Previous studies showed that Favipiravir, a selective viral ribonucleic acid dependent-ribonucleic acid polymerase inhibitor, exhibited a trend of clinical improvement within 14 days and promoted viral clearance by day 7, without reduction of mortality rate in COVID-19. Methods During the COVID-19 pandemic, Department of Medical Services (Thailand) formulated National Clinical Treatment Guidelines for COVID-19 and approved Favipiravir to eight medical centres. After treatment with Favipiravir monotherapy, we compared real-world data analysis to supportive treatment without antiviral agents. Findings We analysed 12,888 COVID-19 patients between June 1, 2021, and July 31, 2021. This group study excluded 66 asymptomatic and 4,634 COVID-19 patients treated with other antiviral agents. The 4,896 mild, 2,357 moderate, and 1,393 severe COVID-19 patients were analysed. All patients neither had previous SARS-CoV-2 infection nor received an mRNA vaccine during study period. Favipiravir monotherapy reduced the 28-day mortality risk in severe COVID-19 by relative risk (RR) = 0.72 (95% CI 0.58-0.91 P=0.006) after adjustment for aging and hypertension. However, in mild and moderate COVID-19, Favipiravir monotherapy did not significantly reduce 28-day mortality risk by RR = 0.59 (95% CI 0.06- 5.43 P=0.65) after adjustment for aging, and RR = 0.60 (95% CI 0.32-1.13 P=0.11) after adjustment for aging and obesity, respectively. In the patient with recovery, Favipiravir monotherapy exhibited a shortening time to recovery when compared to supportive treatment without antiviral agents (mean + SD by 9.6+ 7.1 vs. 12.9 +7.6 days: P<0.0001, 10.0+5.9 vs. 12.4 + 5.3 days: P<0.0001, and 11.2 +7.8 vs. 13.1+ 8.0 days: P<0.0001 in mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 respectively). Interpretation Real-world data analysis showed that favipiravir monotherapy was superior to supportive treatment without antiviral agents in shortening the recovery time in surviving patients and significantly reducing 28-day mortality risk in severe COVID-19. Funding Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
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50
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Wang M, Wu C, Liu N, Zhang F, Dong H, Wang S, Chen M, Jiang X, Zhang K, Gu L. SARS-CoV-2 RdRp uses NDPs as a substrate and is able to incorporate NHC into RNA from diphosphate form molnupiravir. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 226:946-955. [PMID: 36528144 PMCID: PMC9749393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 has been ravaging throughout the world for three years and has severely impaired both human health and the economy. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 employs the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex for genome replication and transcription, making RdRp an appealing target for antiviral drug development. Systematic characterization of RdRp will undoubtedly aid in the development of antiviral drugs targeting RdRp. Here, our research reveals that RdRp can recognize and utilize nucleoside diphosphates as a substrate to synthesize RNA with an efficiency of about two thirds of using nucleoside triphosphates as a substrate. Nucleoside diphosphates incorporation is also template-specific and has high fidelity. Moreover, RdRp can incorporate β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine into RNA while using diphosphate form molnupiravir as a substrate. This incorporation results in genome mutation and virus death. It is also observed that diphosphate form molnupiravir is a better substrate for RdRp than the triphosphate form molnupiravir, presenting a new strategy for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maofeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Cancan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Nan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Fengyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Hongjie Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Xiaoqiong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Kundi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| | - Lichuan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
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