(Merck) Merck stock fell more than 3% on Friday in premarket after an updated study of its investigational oral antiviral pill, molnupiravir, against COVID-19 showed lower efficacy rates.
A MOVe-OUT study of molnupiravir showed a reduction of death or hospitalization by 6.8%, compared to 9.7% in the placebo. An interim study showed a higher 7.3% efficacy in molnupiravir group.
In the updated study, nine deaths were recorded in the placebo group, and only a single one in the molnupiravir group. The adverse impacts in the molnupiravir remained unchanged from the interim analysis.
Merck, together with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics believe molnupiravir can address unmet medical needs for an oral Covid-19 drug for individuals with risks of developing severe forms of the disease. The firms will share the results of the analysis with the FDA on November 30.
MRK: NYSE is down -3.23% on premarket.
