Merck, Ridgeback Starting Phase 3 Trial of COVID-19 Preventative

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics are starting a phase 3 clinical trial of molnupiravir, which is intended to stop infection with COVID-19 after a person has been exposed.

The late-stage study of molnupiravir, which was originally developed for treatment of influenza, has begun enrolling participants age 18 and up who live in the same household as a patient with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

The multinational study will enroll approximately 1,332 participants who will get either 800 mg of molnupiravir or a placebo orally every 12 hours for five days.