Fiocruz to participate in Phase III of the molnupiravir study in COVID-19

Starting this week, Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) will be part of a Phase III international multicenter study with the drug molnupiravir, which is under development by US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK).

The goal is to verify its efficiency to prevent the COVID-19 spread and transmission among people exposed to the Sars-CoV-2 virus. The study will occur simultaneously in seven centers in Brazil, two of which are under the Fiocruz responsibility: Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio de Janeiro. The coordination is under the responsibility of researchers Julio Croda and Margareth Dalcolmo.

To evaluate the use of molnupiravir in post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), individuals who have been exposed to the virus, that is, who live with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 72 hours, and have at least one symptom associated with the disease, as well as other specific criteria required in the research protocol, will be evaluated.