Clinical trial to see if molnupiravir can prevent COVID-19

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Infectious diseases expert Diana Florescu, MD, is recruiting participants for a clinical trial at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).

This research study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of molnupiravir for the prevention of COVID-19 in asymptomatic adults residing with a person with COVID-19. 

How molnupiravir works

Antiviral drugs like molnupiravir attack an invading virus. Molnupiravir causes the SARS-CoV-2 virus to make mistakes every time it tries to copy itself. If the virus can't replicate, it can't spread – and the immune system can easily fight it off.

The key is stopping a virus early before it has a chance to multiply out of control.

"The earlier you start an intervention, the better," says Dr. Florescu.

Diana Florescu, MD
Diana Florescu, MD, is leading a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of molnupiravir for the prevention of COVID-19.

Potential different use for molnupiravir

This is not the first clinical trial for molnupiravir done at UNMC. Dr. Florescu, as principal investigator, was part of a phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate if molnupiravir was safe and effective to treat COVID-19. The study included non-hospitalized people with mild to moderate COVID-19.

According to a company press release for this phase 3 clinical trial, molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50% compared to placebo. The clinical trial results are still under review by experts in the field, after which the results are expected to be published.

Can molnupiravir prevent COVID-19?

“People living with a SARS-COV-2-infected individual are at high risk of developing COVID-19,” explains Dr. Florescu. “They have extended close proximity with someone shedding a high amount of virus.”

A study in mice showed that molnupiravir significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness. In other words, when given preventatively, molnupiravir protected mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Join the research study

This is a double-blind study, meaning that neither the participants nor the study staff will know if they're receiving the treatment or a placebo. Each participant will be randomized either to molnupiravir or placebo for five days and remain in the study for approximately 28 days. 

The clinical study is seeking participants who:

  • Are 19 years or older
  • Did not have confirmed or suspected COVID-19
  • Live in a household with a person with documented symptomatic COVID-19 (laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection with symptoms)

If you're interested in enrolling, you can email the research team at FlorescuResearchTeam@unmc.edu. You can also call 402.836.9265 or 402.559.8929. The team is seeking to recruit 10 participants.

The name of the research study is Study of MK-4482 for Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Adults (MK-4482-013) (MOVe-AHEAD). Find out more about the research study using this ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04939428. The IRB number is 465-21-CB.