{"id":72243,"date":"2021-11-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2021\/11\/16\/med-center-testing-new-oral-drug-to-prevent-covid-19\/"},"modified":"2022-08-29T14:17:12","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T19:17:12","slug":"med-center-testing-new-oral-drug-to-prevent-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2021\/11\/16\/med-center-testing-new-oral-drug-to-prevent-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Med center testing new oral drug to prevent COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine have launched a new clinical research trial for adults who live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The trial will evaluate if Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral, can prevent COVID-19. The trial also will assess the safety of the drug.<\/p>\n

Clinical trials are research studies performed with human volunteers that aim to evaluate if investigational treatments and vaccines are safe and effective for people.<\/p>\n

To date, there have been more than 5 million deaths around the world due to COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n

Molnupiravir (also known as MK-4482 and EIDD-2801) is an investigational medicine that can be swallowed and, in preclinical studies, demonstrated an ability to prevent the growth of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The trial is sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.<\/p>\n

The primary objective of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 and 3 study, called MOVe-AHEAD, is to evaluate if Molnupiravir, compared to placebo, is safe and effective at preventing hospitalization or death in adults residing with a person who has COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Study participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the study drug or placebo every 12 hours for five days. There will be follow-up visits that take place on days five, 14, 21 and 29. Some visits may be completed by telephone or video call.<\/p>\n

Diana Florescu, MD, professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and an infectious diseases specialist at Nebraska Medicine, is leading the UNMC clinical trial.<\/p>\n

"For many years, antivirals such as this drug, have been effective in preventing illness after exposure to a variety of pathogens and to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to close contacts," Dr. Florescu said. "We hope that Molnupiravir will decrease SARS-CoV-2 transmission between family members and prevent illness after exposure to SARS-CoV-2, including variants with spike gene mutations for which current vaccines may not provide protection."<\/p>\n

About 1,300 participants will be recruited for the international study, which will take about one month from the time the participant provides documented informed consent, through the final contact.<\/p>\n

There is no cost for the trial drug or the trial-related medical tests and exams.<\/p>\n

You may qualify if you:<\/p>\n