This was a phase IIa, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, designed to compare the safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of EIDD-2801 (molnupiravir) versus placebo as measured by SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA detection in symptomatic adult outpatients with COVID-19.
This was a phase IIa, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, designed to compare
the safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of molnupiravir versus placebo as measured
by SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA detection in symptomatic adult outpatients with COVID-19. The study
was a multicenter trial that was conducted in the United States.
In this study, 204 participants were randomized and 202 received molnupiravir or placebo
orally twice a day (BID) for 5 days. The study enrolled participants in 5 parts with each
part evaluating molnupiravir doses of either 200 mg BID, 400 mg BID, or 800 mg BID. Doses
were chosen based on emerging virology and safety data from this and ongoing studies. New
dose groups were started after the selected dose had been studied for safety in a Phase 1
study.
Drug: Molnupiravir 200 mg
Oral capsule of molnupiravir
Drug: Molnupiravir 400 mg
Oral capsule of molnupiravir
Drug: Molnupiravir 800 mg
Oral capsule of molnupiravir
Drug: Placebo (PBO)
placebo oral capsule
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Able to provide informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
2. ≥18 years of age at Screening.
3. Study treatment is expected to begin within ≤168 hours from first symptom onset.
4. Ability to swallow pills.
5. Documentation of confirmed active SARS-CoV-2 infection, as determined by a molecular
or non-molecular ("rapid") test conducted at any clinic or laboratory that had a
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification or its equivalent from
a sample collected ≤96 hours prior to study entry.
6. Was experiencing at least one of the following SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms at the
time of enrollment: fever (could be subjective including feeling feverish or having
chills) OR signs/symptoms of respiratory illness (including but not limited to upper
respiratory congestion, loss of sense of smell or taste, sore throat OR lower
respiratory illness - cough, shortness of breath).
7. Agreed to not participate in another interventional clinical trial for the treatment
of SARS-CoV-2 during the study period (28 days) unless hospitalized.
8. Agreed to not obtain investigational medications outside of the molnupiravir study.
9. Agreed to the sampling detailed in the schedule of evaluations and to comply with
study requirements including contraception requirements.
10. A female participant was eligible to participate if she was not pregnant or
breastfeeding and at least one of the following conditions applied:
- Was not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) OR
- Was a WOCBP and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (a low user
dependency method OR a user-dependent method in combination with a barrier
method), or was abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and
usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long-term and persistent basis), as described in
Appendix 2 of the study protocol during the intervention period and for at least
50 days after the last dose of study intervention. The investigator evaluated the
potential for contraceptive method failure (ie, noncompliance, recently
initiated) in relationship to the first dose of study intervention.
- A WOCBP must have had a negative highly sensitive pregnancy test (serum or urine)
within 24 hours before the first dose of study intervention.
- Additional requirements for pregnancy testing during and after study intervention
were provided in the study protocol.
- The investigator was responsible for review of medical history, menstrual
history, and recent sexual activity to decrease the risk for inclusion of a woman
with an early undetected pregnancy.
- Contraceptive use by women was to be consistent with local regulations regarding
the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
- Given the elevated risk of venous thrombotic events in patients hospitalized with
COVID-19 (Benson et al, 2020; Spratt et al, 2020), estrogen-containing
contraceptives could not be started to fulfill the contraceptive requirement of
this study at any time during participant's participation. If contraceptives were
interrupted as standard of care management of COVID-19 patients and resumed at a
later time point, such as at hospital discharge, then abstinence was practiced
for the defined period of back-up contraception per the contraceptive product
labeling. After this period, contraceptive use had to adhere to the guidance in
Appendix 2 of the study protocol.
11. Male participants were eligible to participate if they agreed to the following during
the intervention period and for at least 100 days after the last dose of study
intervention:
- Refrained from donating sperm
PLUS either:
- Were abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle
(abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agreed to remain abstinent.
OR
- Had to agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or
secondary to medical cause [Appendix 2 of the study protocol]) as detailed below:
- Agreed to use a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive
method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a WOCBP who was not pregnant.
Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner had to agree to remain
abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each
episode of penile-vaginal penetration.
- Contraceptive use by men was to be consistent with local regulations regarding
the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Need for hospitalization or immediate medical attention in the clinical opinion of the
study investigator.
2. Hemoglobin <10 g/dL in men and <9 g/dL in women.
3. Platelet count <100,000/ µL or received a platelet transfusion within 5 days prior to
enrollment.
4. Was on dialysis or has an estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m^2
5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >3x upper limit normal
(ULN).
6. History of or current hospitalization for COVID-19. Note: Individuals hospitalized and
then discharged, even if only hospitalized for 1 day, were excluded.
7. History of kidney disease as evidenced by estimated creatinine clearance value <30
mL/min.
8. History of significant liver disease in the opinion of the site investigator or active
hepatitis B or active hepatitis C. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that is advanced
(CD4<200/mm^3) and/or on treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues.
9. Use of therapeutic interventions with possible anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity within 30 days
prior to study entry, (e.g., remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir fixed dose combination,
ribavirin, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and convalescent plasma), or participation
in a clinical trial involving any of these drugs whether for treatment or prophylaxis.
10. Receipt of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prior to study entry.
11. Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of molnupiravir, or
its formulation.
12. Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site
investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
13. History of recent (within the past 3 months) hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident) or
major bleed.
14. Presence of a condition, that in the opinion of the investigator, would place the
subject at increased risk from study participation.
Valley Clinical Trials, Inc.
Northridge, California, United States
FOMAT Medical Research
Oxnard, California, United States
Southern California Emergency Medicine
Yucaipa, California, United States
Indago Research and Health Center, Inc.
Hialeah, Florida, United States
NOLA Research Works, LLC
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Care United Research, LLC
Forney, Texas, United States
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington, United States