Description

• Molnupiravir is a broad-spectrum antiviral prodrug of the nucleoside analog β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC)
• Molnupiravir competes predominantly with CTP for incorporation; it induces lethal viral mutagenesis by increasing G to A and C to U transition mutations without inhibition of RNA synthesis in replicating coronaviruses, which prevents the development of viral resistance
• In primary airway epithelial cell cultures, Molnupiravir dose-dependently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus production; it also inhibits MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV with EC50 values in the submicromolar range
• In mice infected with SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV, Molnupiravir improves pulmonary function, and reduces virus titer and body weight loss
• Molnupiravir also displays in vivo efficacy against seasonal and pandemic influenza A shed virus
• It is orally bioavailable.