Experimental antiviral drug molnupiravir, developed by New Jersey drugmaker Merck with Ridgeback Bio, shows a rapid reduction of the infectious virus in a study among participants with early COVID-19.
Molnupiravir is being tested in a Phase 2/3 trial that will be completed in May.
Merck will be funded up to $ 268.8 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine William Fischer calls the findings ‘promising’.
“We are determined to contribute to the global response to the pandemic as part of the remarkable efforts of the entire medical and scientific community,” added Mike Nally, executive vice president of Human Health at Merck.
With its headquarters in Kenilworth, Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company has several locations in the region, including Rahwah, Branchburg, Linden, and several others in Montgomery County, PA.
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