Molnupiravir ( An Oral Medicine for COVID- 19 ) Treatment

Molnupiravir is the first oral, direct-acting antiviral medicine that is highly effective in reducing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is an antiviral medication that prevents the reproduction of certain RNA viruses. It is used to treat COVID-19 in those infected by SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir, a biological product of NHC (hydroxycytidine), is a novel nucleoside that correlates with a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Molnupiravir appears to have a beneficial effect on mild to moderate COVID-19 safely. The oral and powerful activity of Molnupiravir deals better with the COVID-19 epidemic.

What is coronavirus disease?

Coronavirus is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Some become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and people with other health problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, and kidney disease are more likely to develop serious conditions. Any person can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in form of small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breath. These particles range from large respiratory droplets to small aerosols ( small particles like fog or spray). It is important to take safety and to stay home and self-isolate until you recover if you feel unwell.

The best way to prevent and slow down this transmission is to be well known about this disease and know how to spread the virus. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1meters away from others. Wear a fitted mask and wash your hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer frequently. Get vaccination on your time and follow the guidelines against this disease.

Symptoms of coronavirus

Signs and symptoms of coronavirus may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. The time after exposure and before having symptoms is called the incubation period. If you have COVID-19 without any symptoms, it is called presymptomatic transmission. Common signs and symptoms can include :

• Fever
• Cough
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Chest pain
• Pink eye
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rash

Early symptoms may include a loss of taste or smell.

The severity of COVID -19 symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some people may have only a few symptoms. Some people have no symptoms. Some people may experience severe symptoms such as shortness of breath and pneumonia.

Some children experience multisystem inflammatory syndrome that can affect their organs and tissues, several weeks after having COVID-19. Older people have a higher risk of serious illness from COVID -19 and the risk increases with age. People who have already existing medical problems also may have a higher risk of serious illness. Medical conditions like :

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes
• Overweight
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Weaken immune system
• Pregnancy
• Asthma
• Liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Dementia
• Brain and nervous systems such as strokes
• Any disorders. 

Present cases of COVID- 19 in India and other countries

There have been 43,710,027 infections and 525,604 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

India had administered at least 1,991,240,408 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 72.9% of the country’s population. Data were reported in the last 24 hours. In India, the confirmed cases were 43,783,062 and confirmed death 525,785.

In India, the number of fresh cases of coronavirus in 24 hours is 18,930 of which 35 people have died. The active cases increase to 1,19, 457 while the positive rate has 4.32%. There are five states where cases of the corona are 50.89 of which Maharastra has 11.09% in 24 hours.

In India the cases of corona increased in 24 hours is 20,557 which is 32.4% more as compared to earlier in which 40 people died.

In the world the number of cases has coronavirus is 45.85 crore. Although 39.16 people have been cured. Active cases id 6.08 crore. The death rate is 60.6 crore. There are more than 13 lakh cases in the world in 24 hours in which 3579 people died. China has the highest number of cases of corona i.e. 3100. More active cases in South Korea, Vietnam, France, Italy, and Russia in 24 hours.

Method of treatment of COVID-19 from Molnupiravir

Clinical trials 

Molnupiravir is superior to judging by the percentage of participants who are hospitalized or die.

Phase 1:

400mg molnupiravir administered capsule form orally every 12 hours for 5 days (10 doses total)

Phase 2;’

Molnupiravir 800mg administered daily capsule form orally every 12 hours for 5 days (10 doses total).

Outcome

Primary outcome measure

Percentage of participants who are hospitalized or die less than 24 hours of acute care facility. Death is due to other causes. ( Up to 29 days)

An adverse effect is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant. They are associated with the use of study intervention whether or not considered related to the study intervention. (Up to 7 months)

Secondary outcome measure

The number of days from random to the first day on or before study Day 29 for sustained or improvement of each sign and symptom will be judged. *(29 days )

The World Health Organization (WHO) outcome scale is 11 point ordinal score that categorizes clinical progression. It ranges from 0 to 10 with a high score indicating clinical progression.

Conclusion

This review highlight Molnupiravir’s impact on the treatment of COVID-19, by analyzing the latest clinical trial data and possible limitations of the drug. Molnupiravir discovery began in 2013 intending to treat the New World Alphavirus. This drug inhibits the RNA-dependent enzyme which subsequently results in RNA virus reproduction errors. It is a very effective medicine in treating a patient with COVID-19.