Molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
Overview and Development
Molnupiravir is a broad-spectrum, oral antiviral agent that is a therapeutic option for adult outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.[16] Molnupiravir is an oral, modified prodrug of N4-hydroxycitidine, which is a nucleoside analog that acts as an inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp).[17] RdRp represents a critical step in a wide range of viruses in the viral replication transcription complex to copy viral RNA genome and create new virus. IV remdesivir also represents a nucleoside analog inhibitor of RdRp; however, the pathways by which viral replication is halted differs substantially between these two agents. While remdesivir acts as a competitive substrate in RNA genome that immediately halts the RNA replication process, molnupiravir triphosphate can be reused by SARS-CoV-2 as template strands for further viral RNA replication. This ultimately leads to an accumulation of copy-errors and a buildup of viral mutations that make the virus noninfectious and unable to replicate ("viral error catastrophe").[17]
Molnupiravir represents a repurposed medication that was first developed in 2013 as a possible treatment for soldiers exposed to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, but it was found to have broad activity against a range of viral families, including influenza, Ebola, Chikungunya, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronaviruses.[18] It was identified as a promising therapeutic option for SARS-CoV-2 soon after the COVID-19 pandemic began.[18]
Molnupiravir Dosing
Molnupiravir dosing is 800 mg (four 200-mg capsules) orally twice a day for 5 days.[19] Similar to N-R, patients should begin taking this medication as soon as possible after their diagnosis of COVID-19 and within 5 days of the onset of symptoms.[19] Unlike N-R, molnupiravir does not require any adjustments for renal or hepatic dysfunction, and it lacks any clinically relevant drug interactions.[19]
Molnupiravir Efficacy
Following initial phase I and phase II SARS-CoV-2 trials, molnupiravir was advanced into a phase III component of the MOVe-OUT trial in late 2020.[20] This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effect of molnupiravir in nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19. The trial enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms for no more than 5 days who had at least one high-risk factor for progression to severe disease (obesity, age over 60 years, diabetes, and severe cardiovascular disease, primarily). It is important to note that all patients enrolled in this trial were unvaccinated and that remdesivir and SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody treatments were prohibited during this trial. Patients were randomized to receive molnupiravir 800 mg (four 200-mg capsules) or matching placebo orally twice daily for 5 days. The primary efficacy outcome was all-cause hospitalization or death through Day 29. Common features of the 1,433 patients in the final analysis included obesity (74% of patients) and a median age of 43 years. Of those enrolled, 48% had symptoms for fewer than 3 days, 55% had mild disease, 45% had moderate disease severity, and 20% had detectable SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies (indicating recent or previous infection).[20]
Hospitalization or death by Day 29 occurred in 6.8% of patients who received molnupiravir versus 9.7% of patients in the placebo group (treatment difference 3.0%, 95% CI -5.9 to -0.1). In a prespecified analysis focused only on hospitalizations or deaths likely to have been caused by COVID-19, the primary outcome occurred in 6.3% of molnupiravir-treated patients versus 9.2% of placebo-treated patients (risk difference 2.8%, 95% CI -5.7 to 0.0). Looking only at mortality, one patient (0.1%) in the molnupiravir group died, and nine patients (1.3%) in the placebo group died (89% decreased risk for death, 95% CI 14%-99%). In a time-to-event analysis, rate of hospitalization or death was 31% lower with molnupiravir than with placebo (hazard ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–1.01). Subgroup analyses did not show any clear treatment benefit in those with undetectable SARS-CoV-2 or those with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody status at enrollment. No safety concerns were identified in the analysis of adverse events; however, it should be noted that pregnant patients were excluded in this study.[20] Molnupiravir has been shown to have similar activity against the BA.1 and BA.2 variants as it did for more ancestral strains.[21]
A consideration for molnupiravir is its theoretical risk for contributing to mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2. As such, molnupiravir use should be avoided in patients who are unlikely to adhere to a full 5-day course.
Molnupiravir Clinical Application
Based on the results of the MOVe-OUT trial, an FDA advisory committee voted on November 30, 2021, by a narrow, 13-to-10 margin in favor of recommending it for EUA.[22] Molnupiravir was granted EUA status by the FDA on December 23, 2021, and has been authorized for distribution in a number of other countries.[16]
While EUA status for molnupiravir has been granted, there are some important safety considerations for this agent based on its mechanism of action. First, molnupiravir has tested positive on the Ames test, indicating potential mutagenic potential in bacterial samples.[18] While subsequent in vivo and in vitro analyses in rodent studies did not find evidence of genotoxicity (even at excessively high doses and durations), theoretical concerns for molnupiravir exist for use in pregnancy, children, and in males and females considering conception.[18] As a result, molnupiravir should not be prescribed to pregnant or breastfeeding patients, and patients of childbearing potential should be counseled appropriately on intercourse around the time of molnupiravir administration.[19] NIH guidelines advise patients to abstain from intercourse or use reliable contraception while taking molnupiravir, and for up to 4 days following the treatment course. These guidelines also advise that sexually active males of childbearing potential take similar precautions for 3 months following molnupiravir administration.[2] Molnupiravir should not be used in patients younger than age 18 years due to potential risk for bone- and cartilage-growth abnormalities.[19]
A second consideration for molnupiravir is its theoretical risk for contributing to mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2.[2,23] While any mutations caused by molnupiravir should eventually result in a mutant variant that is incapable of replication, any mutation generated by molnupiravir that resulted in a variant capable of escaping this viral death cycle would be of potential concern to global public health. As such, molnupiravir use should be avoided in patients who are unlikely to be able to adhere to a full 5-day course.[2]
Due to the relatively modest efficacy of molnupiravir observed in the MOVe-OUT trial, the potential safety concerns in pregnancy, and the theoretical potential for generation of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants, the NIH has advised that molnupiravir only be considered in select scenarios.[2] The NIH recommends that nonhospitalized patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 be offered either N-R or IV remdesivir, and that molnupiravir should only be considered if both of these options are not available, or appropriate, for the patient. However, scaling of nirmatrelvir production may prove challenging to meet supply during another severe surge in cases, and outpatient infusions of IV medications can be logistically difficult, so there are patients who would still benefit from molnupiravir despite its limitations. Molnupiravir may also become the more readily available option in low- and middle-income countries.[24] The WHO has given a conditional recommendation to consider molnupiravir in patients with nonsevere COVID-19 at highest risk for hospitalization, assuming strategies are in place to mitigate use in pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children.[13]
The emergence of two oral antivirals that have shown to be effective in the early stages of COVID-19 to prevent disease progression is an exciting event. A comparison of the characteristics of these agents can be found in Table 2. It allows practitioners to become even more multifaceted in how they prevent severe COVID-19 and associated deaths, adding to other effective methodologies, including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, IV remdesivir, and immunosuppressive therapies, such as dexamethasone, tocilizumab, and baricitinib. While vaccines are widely available across the United States, the parenteral administration requirements for monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir have proven to be a substantial barrier to widespread adoption in the outpatient setting. The emergence and spread of the Omicron BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 variant and BA.2 subvariants in late 2021 have provided substantial challenges to healthcare systems in the U.S. and across the world. Their ability to escape immunomodulation from preexisting vaccines (particularly if not boosted) and monoclonal antibodies has further limited therapeutic options to mitigate severe disease. All of this makes the FDA EUA of N-R and molnupiravir very timely, relevant, and important. The rapid development and study of these medications highlights a high level of interprofessional ingenuity and teamwork necessary to accomplish this feat.
In 2021, the U.S. government committed to purchasing 3.1 million courses of molnupiravir, as well as 10 million courses of N-R.[25,26] Similar to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine rollout, doses are allocated directly to individual states, which distribute them accordingly. All doses allocated by the U.S. government will be available to dispense at no cost to patients; however, the acquisition cost is over $500 per treatment course, and out-of-pocket prices may be high once supply allocated by the U.S. government is exhausted.[27] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a treatment locator tool online (https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/).
There are several limitations to these oral antiviral agents that should be considered by clinicians. Both were studied in patients who were unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and in a time before the Omicron variants were present in these populations. As such, it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of benefit when prescribed to a vaccinated patient and in an era when a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant is dominant. Early analyses indicate, however, that both agents are likely to retain effective coverage against the Omicron BA.1 variant.[28] Scaling the production and distribution of both oral medications will also be a challenge. Nirmatrelvir in particular has a complex chemical manufacturing process that limited its production capacity in the early months following FDA authorization, and this may be rate-limiting if a subsequent case surge ever causes a sharp spike in demand. Distribution is also variable from state to state, and in times of high demand, there will be a need to ensure that limited supplies are allocated to the patients at highest risk for disease progression (Table 3).
When supply of these medications is low, efforts should be made to ensure that patients at highest risk for COVID-19 disease progression be given highest priority. When medication supply is more ample, N-R should be the preferred oral antiviral for high-risk SARS-CoV-2 positive patients within 5 days of symptom onset given its superior efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death. Pharmacists must closely consider ritonavir-related drug interactions and be cognizant of dosing in renal impairment. When more efficacious treatment options are not available, molnupiravir should be considered as a viable, though less efficacious, alternative. Pharmacists and prescribers, however, must consider a number of factors when assessing candidacy for molnupiravir, including pregnancy and breastfeeding status, sexual partners in patients of childbearing potential, and the likelihood of medication adherence.
US Pharmacist. 2022;47(7):34-41. © 2022 Jobson Publishing
