Summary: Tragic decision by Merck to forgo Ivermectin (generic, but Merck was co-inventor) in favor of a dubious goldmine in Merck Molnupiravir (already known as a mutagenic drug).

Merck issued that infamous and damaging anti-ivermectin PR - which WHO Chief Scientist used to dissuade Indian state of Goa from mass distributing ivermectin during the last Delta wave in India.

WHO Chief Scientist is now the subject of a lawsuit in India:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ivermectin/comments/nbez5n Goa (India) residents mass administration of Ivermectin - Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.reddit.com/r/ivermectin/comments/nofm87 Indian Bar Association serves legal notice upon Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the Chief Scientist, WHO

 

See references below for Merck Molnupiravir mutagenic potential - for cancer - but potentially as an engine for virus variants to be created.

 

 

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Video:

https://youtu.be/bvevJePdNEk

THIS Is Why People Don't Trust Big Pharma

Dec 15, 2021

Last week the FDA approved the Merck covid pill despite evidence that it is only 30% effective. Could profiteering from both Big Pharma and politicians have played any part in its approval? #CovidPill #Merck #BigPharma

 

 

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References:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ivermectin/comments/repldn New Molnupiravir treatment refused by the High Authority for Health in France. romjpn

https://www.rtl.fr/actu/debats-societe/coronavirus-le-nouveau-traitement-molnupiravir-refuse-par-la-haute-autorite-de-sante-7900105119 (French)

(A potential scandal is unfolding as the French government already spent more than 30 millions euros in a treatment that has not been approved.)

 

https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1464233509820583938?t=gqluG67V-6RLcO-mn7OY1w&s=19

Eric Topol

Disappointing from Merck. Updated data for efficacy of their Molnupiravir pill in full trial drops down to 30% from 50%, absolute reduction to 3 from 7 per 100 at interim analysis https://t.co/PyfIBnFNC7 https://t.co/SBDL92aG5M

https://twitter.com/phillyharper/status/1464245942287319043?t=GF8QDjdEHHlO0aFS91sa5g&s=19

"The U.S. has locked up 1.7 million of those courses as part of a $1.2 billion purchase agreement in June."

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ivermectin/comments/nw0bhp/us_signs_12_bln_deal_for_17_mln_courses_of_mercks/ U.S. signs $1.2 bln deal for 1.7 mln courses of Merck's experimental COVID-19 drug

 

https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/merck-uk-molnupiravir-authorization-covid-pill/609506/ Merck wins UK authorization to sell first COVID-19 pill

Published Nov. 4, 2021

By Kristin Jensen

 

https://theintercept.com/2021/10/05/covid-pill-drug-pricing-merck-ridgeback/ MERCK SELLS FEDERALLY FINANCED COVID PILL TO U.S. FOR 40 TIMES WHAT IT COSTS TO MAKE

The Covid-19 treatment molnupiravir was developed using funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

Sharon Lerner

October 6 2021

 

https://twitter.com/farid__jalali/status/1469716893019750408

Farid Jalali MD

@GidMK @K_Sheldrick want to divert your skills this time to a patented "darling" drug?

is referring to tweet:

https://twitter.com/boulware_dr/status/1469707104365776898

David Boulware, MD MPH

@boulware_dr #IDTwitter in looking at the #Molnupiravir #COVID19 data more, the best explanation for the funky data is that likely there was fraud in conduct by some sites or some participants. While not directly @Merck fault, it's a danger of multi-site intl trials with insufficient ovesight

 

https://twitter.com/Covid19Crusher/status/1465818897156870150?t=WRSSx-0-F6o3K6Et91Kx0w&s=19

Covid19Crusher

The FDA approves Molnupiravir by 13 votes to 10.

If you're hit by Delta, Merck's trial data show with a 95% confidence that your risk of hospitalization or death is:

• reduced by 7.8% or increased by 2.9% (absolute)

• reduced by 57% or increased by 42% (relative), p=0.41 https://t.co/lyLNLVaCv4

 

https://twitter.com/Covid19Crusher/status/1465818899228901384?t=OtQWzfVd2tizjGeJ7i170A&s=19

Covid19Crusher

Molnupiravir is probably approved without statistically significant data because it was a pre-specified decision (and the drug pre-ordered by several governments).

Dishearteningly, science-blind, conflicted US regulatory agencies are part of the pandemic management problem.

 

https://twitter.com/IanWint67951092/status/1465820456632651781?t=Xzyi6ljH6nzB1WdGO-hw5A&s=19

@GidMK wanna check this out and let the @BBCBreaking know, maybe?

 

On Merck Molnupiravir mutagenic potential - and potential to enhance creation of virus variants

https://twitter.com/michaelzlin/status/1465916573055533064?t=TsaJ5-VGlDI-LLa-dmZ2Nw&s=19

In the AMDAC meeting, Rustem Ismagilov covered the risk of mutagenesis with slides in the public hearing session. He raised all the same concerns as me (brief mutagenesis, suboptimal drug levels in some tissues, rare events become important if advantageious) https://t.co/MbvLLYuHea

 

https://twitter.com/michaelzlin/status/1465920201858301956?t=lkJnTc_Xy-D-1mSRljkcAw&s=19

We came to the exact same concerns independently from basic mechanisms (Rustem is a Caltech chemistry professor). It suggests our logic is not loose but deterministic.

You can listen to his interesting/scary presentation below at 5:12:40.

https://youtu.be/fR9FNSJT64M

 

https://twitter.com/stereomatch2/status/1466622301240131585?t=W8DDGqukXYiMzfbUlGug2g&s=19

at the 5:12:25 minute mark:

(link to that timestamp)

https://youtu.be/fR9FNSJT64M&t=18746

 

https://twitter.com/stereomatch2/status/1466627909645479940?t=d410Y8G_lqqMLXXdOlGRKg&s=19

Rustem Ismagilov presentation starts 5:12:25 and ends at 5:17:44

 

https://twitter.com/AboutIndia/status/1465675736321191937?t=6jd3eu4m5_RsoJUiQJ-8Aw&s=19

The FDA has released a briefing paper on Mercky molnupavir. It’s a detailed document that science-minded people may like to delve into, particularly the section covering the drug’s ability to cause the virus to mutate.

 

https://youtu.be/nFkfE61Gewc

New Oral Drug for COVID - Side Effects You NEED to KNOW About!

Christy Risinger, MD

Oct 8, 2021

Dr. Christy explains the data behind molnupiravir, the new oral drug for the treatment of COVID-19 from Merck. And she shares some pros and cons of the medication.

REFERENCES: NHC mammalian mutagenic potential paper:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021925821005639

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ivermectin/comments/q43rjg/is_molnupiravir_a_global_catastrophic_threat

Is Molnupiravir a Global Catastrophic Threat? - TrialSite News (October 6, 2021) - article points to potential for faster mutation events, leading to faster creation of variants

 

https://www.science.org/content/article/prominent-virologist-warns-covid-19-pill-could-unleash-dangerous-mutants-others-see-little-cause-alarm

A prominent virologist warns COVID-19 pill could unleash dangerous mutants. Others see little cause for alarm

Merck & Co.’s newly approved oral drug works by generating mutations, raising hypothetical fears

7 NOV 2021

BY ROBERT F. SERVICE

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/11/01/supercharging-new-viral-variants-the-dangers-of-molnupiravir-part-1/?sh=163e3f496b15

Nov 1, 2021

Supercharging New Viral Variants: The Dangers Of Molnupiravir (Part 1)

William A. Haseltine

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/11/02/harming-those-who-receive-it-the-dangers-of-molnupiravir-part-2/?sh=6845283d1490

Harming Those Who Receive It: The Dangers Of Molnupiravir (Part 2)

William A. Haseltine

Nov 2, 2021