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-Short Attention Span Theater-
COVID-19: France cancels its order for molnupiravir the same day US FDA issues EUA for it
2021-12-24
[FoxBusinessNews] FDA issues EUA to authorize second ORAL COVID-19 antiviral, Merck's molnupiravir. The molnupiravir pill is cleared for use by adults 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of hospitalization or death

PARIS/MILAN, Dec 22 (Reuters) - France has cancelled its order for Merck & Co's (MRK.N) COVID-19 antiviral drug following disappointing trial data and hopes instead to receive Pfizer's (PFE.N) competing drug before the end of January, the health minister said on Wednesday.

France is the first country to publicly say it has cancelled an order for the Merck treatment after the company released data in late November suggesting its drug was markedly less effective than previously thought, reducing hospitalisations and deaths in its clinical trial of high-risk individuals by about 30%.

From an article in Nature.com:
Merck's COVID pill loses its lustre: what that means for the pandemic

Molnupiravir was initially heralded by public-health officials as a game-changer for COVID-19, but full clinical-trial data showed lower-than-expected efficacy.
Posted by:Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843

#5  The vaccines aren't sterilizing. But they work to keep you out of the hospital:

The latest daily caseload, 6,509, is more than double the total reported Tuesday. It’s unvaccinated residents who remain particularly exposed to the worst effects of COVID-19. From Dec. 5 to 11, unvaccinated Angelenos were five times likelier to get infected, 21 times more likely to require hospitalization and 18 times likelier to die.

Omicron sweeping through California with staggering speed, raising alarms
Posted by: KBK   2021-12-24 11:09  

#4  Meanwhile, 90% of Denmark's omicron patients are vaxxed.
It's now obvious that the vax is worse than natural immunity. Epic fail
Posted by: Waldemar White1179   2021-12-24 10:22  

#3  I wonder if the projected $500 a dose had anything to do with the decision by France?
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom    2021-12-24 09:30  

#2  "C'est la vie" is the French version of inshallah. When lots of old French people died due to heat wave / blackout some years back, the only French who were outraged were those who lost family. And not even all of the were particularly upset.

This is a replay.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2021-12-24 08:46  

#1  Merck has been a long time player in the pharmaceutical industry. Multinational company since 1891. Japan just approved oral dosage.
Posted by: Dale   2021-12-24 08:39  

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