Uh-oh!
https://www.dailymai...tudy-warns.html
Merck's Covid drug is causing new virus mutations, study warns — amid fears its use in virus-stricken China could create entirely new variant
- British researchers found the drug is causing the virus to gain mutations
- Detected mutations are harmless - but they fear future ones could be dangerous
US and UK researchers identified the new mutations in viral samples taken from dozens of patients given Merck's antiviral Lagevrio.
The alterations to the virus did not make it more deadly or infectious, but the experts say it underscores the risk of drugs that work by tinkering with Covid's genetic code.
Concerns Lagevrio could spur mutations arose around the time it received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2021.
The drug works by creating mutations in the Covid genome that prevent the virus from replicating in the body.
They analyzed the nucleic makeup of RNA strands to search for indications the virus mutated because of molnupiravir.
In hundreds of samples, they found evidence the drug had caused replication. Nearly all of the detections were in samples gathered in 2022 - the year the drug was made available worldwide - indicating Lageviro is at fault.
'It is possible that some patients treated with molnupiravir might not fully clear SARS-CoV2 infections, with the potential for onward transmission of molnupiravir-mutated viruses,' researchers wrote.
Dr William Haseltine, known as one of the world's leading experts in human genome analysis, warned in late 2021 the way the drug worked opened the door to danger.
'You are putting a drug into circulation that is a potent mutagen at a time when we are deeply concerned about new variants,' he told Forbes.
He added: 'I can't imagine doing anything more dangerous.'