© BRENDAN MCDERMID
In the video above retired nurse lecturer John Campbell, Ph.D., reports on a comparative analysis of molnurpirivir and ivermectin published in the
Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
1 The first is Merck's new antiviral drug and the second is the much vilified and maligned
2,3 antiparasitic drug used in humans since 1987
4 and approved for human use in the U.S. in 1996.
5,6
Campbell compares the efficacy, safety and cost using available data for ivermectin published in peer reviewed studies and the first interim data for molnupiravir published by Merck. Molnupiravir, also known as EIDD-2801/MK-44827 has data published as early as October 2019 that showed it was a clinical candidate for monotherapy in influenza viruses.
8
And yet, Merck's investigation into the oral antiviral medication against SARS-CoV-2 was not logged with Clinical Trials until October 5, 2020.
9 While Gilead raced to release remdesivir, posting their first clinical trial February 5, 2020,
10 Merck appeared to be slow off the mark. Gilead suspended or terminated the early trials for remdesivir. The reasons given included:
Comment: Just last week the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed
$120 million to "help get covid pills quickly to poor countries".
New York Times reports further:
The generic versions of molnupiravir will be evaluated by the World Health Organization and receive prequalification, the global body's stamp of approval, which would allow countries to fast track purchases.
Still, that process will take months, said Prashant Yadav, a supply chain expert with the Center for Global Development. There are only a few suppliers of the drug's components (called the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or A.P.I.), and its manufacturers will have to be persuaded to ramp up their at-risk production, as well.
The Gates Foundation's efforts could make a meaningful difference, he said. "The foundation investing in a volume guarantee creates a more guaranteed supply of high quality A.P.I. for whosoever wants to make the finished formulation for the drug," he said.
Here's what the Gates Foundation has to
say:
Our goal is to help low- and middle-income countries gain an equal footing with high-income countries in this ongoing fight against the virus. Putting funding on the table early helps lay the groundwork for that. The standard rollout for global health products can be 12 months or more, but we hope to reduce that lag time significantly.
If they truly wanted to end this "pandemic" and help developing countries they would be looking into ivermectin, but they aren't.
The EMA has
started a rolling review of molnupiravir.
Comment: Just last week the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed $120 million to "help get covid pills quickly to poor countries".
New York Times reports further: Here's what the Gates Foundation has to say: If they truly wanted to end this "pandemic" and help developing countries they would be looking into ivermectin, but they aren't.
The EMA has started a rolling review of molnupiravir.