The corona drug has these dangerous side effects

The approval of molnupiravir in the US was on the brink. A Swiss expert warns against careless use of the drug.

After the mRNA vaccines from Biontech, Moderna, the vector vaccine AstraZeneca, the protein-based vaccines Novavax* and Sanofi* as well as the inactivated vaccine from Valneva* are now focusing on corona drugs. Molnupiravir is already available. The tablet from the US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. is marketed under the brand name Lagevrio. Severe side effects are often forgotten.

Doctors in Germany have been able to prescribe the corona drug Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) to patients since January 2022. In Europe, however, approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still missing. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) was a little faster*.

Molnupiravir: emergency approval of the corona drug – expert warns

The tablets against Corona are already available in England. A look at America, however, massively curbs the joy of the speedy release. As the German Pharmacy Newspaper (DAZ) reported in a post “The FDA advisory panel recommended emergency use approval for the COVID-19 drug by a narrow majority: 13 votes in favor and 10 against.”.

The process in the USA will be published on the Swiss platform in December 2021 higgs.ch – an independent knowledge magazine – Urs Greber, Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Zurich, quotes: “I was very surprised by the decision of the advisory board. To be honest, I find that quite careless and incomprehensible.”

Mode of action of the corona drug molnupiravir: there are dangers here

the DAZ describes the mode of action of molnupiravir as follows: “Molnupiravir and its metabolite (N4-hydroxycytidine) are chemically similar to an RNA and DNA building block. This fact is a prerequisite for the antiviral effect of molnupiravir. The installation of this wrong building block leads to errors in the RNA chain of the virus – i.e. the genetic information of SARS-CoV-2 – so that it can no longer multiply and is no longer able to survive.”

The higgs article summarizes it briefly: “The active ingredient causes the wrong building block of the RNA to be built into the genome of the coronavirus. This process happens randomly at different locations in the viral genome. “If the genome contains many errors, the control mechanism of the virus cannot correct them, the virus stops reproducing – the infection is stopped”.”

However, with the “implantation” of errors in the genetic material of the virus, massive problems can also arise for the patient. These consequences can have major effects on the body.

Possible erroneous effect of molnupiravir

The problem with molnupiravir arises when, according to Professor Urs Greber, the drug causes only a few of the desired errors in the virus. This could happen then “when the concentration of the active ingredient in the cells is low – for example, because someone forgets to swallow a pill. As a result, the virus’s corrective mechanisms might eradicate some bugs but not others, and the virus would continue to multiply.”.

The expert is very clear: “Nobody can say how high the probability of this is. That’s potentially dangerous because you don’t know which mutations occur and what effect they have.” The application remains for him “poses risks and increases the risk of viral mutations”.

Corona drug: The side effects – mutation by molnupiravir

According to Professor Urs Greber, with the way the corona drug works, there is a possibility that molnupiravir “change cellular gene activity” can. the German pharmacy newspaper confirms the following in its report: “This has already been demonstrated in vitro, i.e. in the test tube (in bacteria, among other things), but so far not in vivo (this has been investigated in transgenic rodents, among other things).”

Nevertheless, according to numerous scientists, the risk of treatment with molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is classified as rather low. However, it is explicitly discouraged from taking it during pregnancy. As reported by the DAZ, there are non-clinical studies on reproductive toxicology in male and female rats, preliminary studies on embryo-foetal development in rats and rabbits, and a study on pre- and postnatal (before and after birth) development in rats.

In embryo-foetal development studies in rats, reduced fetal body weight and external (eye), visceral (absent kidney, cardiovascular malformations) and skeletal malformations (abnormalities and delays in ossification, increased incidence of rib malformations, thoracic and lumbar vertebral malformations and skull malformations) were observed .

Molnupiravir side effects: Bone and cartilage malformation

The previous studies have shown that the use of the corona drug molnupiravir is not without problems for bones and cartilage. In the comments on this, the DAZ on a three-month study in rats. Abnormal bone and cartilage formation were noted here, and rat and rabbit fetuses showed delayed and incomplete ossification in embryo-foetal development studies.

Experts and manufacturers alike agree that “that molnupiravir should not be approved for use in patients under the age of 18”. Professor Urs Greber is also certain about the product from the US manufacturer: “The drug’s profit is rather small.” He also explains in the higgs article that he does not see this drug as a game changer in the pandemic.

Other corona drugs: Paxlovid and Atriva in development

In addition to molnupiravir (Lagevrio), another drug against corona is currently waiting in the wings with Paxlovid. A comparison between the two products has already shown advantages for a tablet. Also in Germany could with Atriva soon a corona drug* to be developed. Studies are already underway in Tübingen. *echo24.de is an offer from IPPEN MEDIA.