Merck\u2019s New COVID Drug Is Making News \u2014 How Does It Compare to Ivermectin?<\/strong><\/h2>\nIn his latest video, John Campbell, Ph.D., compared ivermectin, whose use as a COVID treatment has been widely criticized by mainstream media, with Merck\u2019s new COVID drug, Molnupiravir, which is garnering positive media coverage.<\/em><\/p>\nBy Jeremy Loffredo
\nThe Defender<\/p>\n
In his latest video<\/a>, John Campbell, Ph.D., compared ivermectin, whose use as a COVID treatment has been widely criticized<\/a> by mainstream media, with Merck\u2019s new COVID drug, Molnupiravir, which has been the subject of glowing<\/a> media<\/a>attention<\/a>.<\/p>\nCampbell, a UK-based nurse teacher, cited several studies as he compared the two treatments on the basis of effectiveness, safety and cost. He first turned to a paper in the Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics<\/a>, \u201cDrugs Shown to Inhibit SARS-Cov-2 in COVID-19 Disease: Comparative Basic and Clinical Pharmacology of Molnupiravir and Ivermectin.\u201d<\/p>\nThe peer-reviewed paper refers to ivermectin<\/a> as the most studied \u201crepurposed\u201d medication globally, and notes that it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and \u201cclassified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an \u2018essential\u2019 broad spectrum antiparasitic, antibiotic, and has demonstrated broad antiviral activity against RNA viruses, including HIV, Zika, MERS and coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cAccording to the paper, Campbell said, Molnupiravir \u2014 though still going through trials and safety testing \u2014 is believed to \u201cwork against seasonal and pandemic flu, MERS, coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2.\u201d The paper\u2019s author noted that Molnupiravir does not inhibit inflammation, whereas ivermectin does.<\/p>\n
How do the two drugs compare on cost? Ivermectin is exponentially cheaper than Merck\u2019s new Molnupiraravir.<\/p>\n
The cost of a complete five-day course of Molnupiravir is $700 \u2014 or $70 per pill. That amounts to a 4,000% markup<\/a> over what it costs Merck to make the drug.<\/p>\nCiting 2013 prices<\/a> provided by the WHO, Campbell said a five-day course of ivermectin \u2014 10 3mg pills \u2014 costs $0.53. (However, at today\u2019s U.S. prices, 10 3mg pills cost about $39<\/a>).<\/p>\nOn effectiveness, Molnupiravir is lacking data. The only publicly available clinical data on Molnupiravir comes from a Merck press statement<\/a> claiming the new drug is 50% effective against hospitalizations and deaths, when used as an early treatment.<\/p>\nFor ivermectin, using publicly available data, Campbell referred to one peer-reviewed study<\/a> that pegs ivermectin\u2019s effectiveness in early treatment at 62%, and an ongoing meta-analysis<\/a> which shows ivermectin is 66% effective in early treatment and 86% effective as a prophylactic.<\/p>\nUsing VigiBase<\/a>, a WHO database on pharmaceutical safety data, Campbell showed that out of\u00a0 3.7 billion doses given of ivermectin there have been only 5,693 reports of adverse events \u2014 far fewer, according to Campbell, than the number of adverse event reports associated with amoxicillin and ibuprofen, both widely used and considered safe.<\/p>\nComparable safety information for Merck\u2019s Molnupiravir is not yet available, as trials and studies are still ongoing. But Campbell did raise concern about\u00a0 Molnupiravir\u2019s mutagenic properties. He cited the Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics<\/a> paper<\/a> which states, \u201cthere is some concern about the safety of [Molnupiravir\u2019s] NHC-nucleoside triphosphate, which is mutagenic to mammalian cells.\u201d<\/p>\nAccording to Campbell, Merck denies this is a problem. But the paper suggests, at the very least,\u201d it needs looking into,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n
Watch the video here:<\/strong><\/p>\n
By Jeremy Loffredo
\nThe Defender<\/p>\n
In his latest video<\/a>, John Campbell, Ph.D., compared ivermectin, whose use as a COVID treatment has been widely criticized<\/a> by mainstream media, with Merck\u2019s new COVID drug, Molnupiravir, which has been the subject of glowing<\/a> media<\/a>attention<\/a>.<\/p>\n Campbell, a UK-based nurse teacher, cited several studies as he compared the two treatments on the basis of effectiveness, safety and cost. He first turned to a paper in the Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics<\/a>, \u201cDrugs Shown to Inhibit SARS-Cov-2 in COVID-19 Disease: Comparative Basic and Clinical Pharmacology of Molnupiravir and Ivermectin.\u201d<\/p>\n The peer-reviewed paper refers to ivermectin<\/a> as the most studied \u201crepurposed\u201d medication globally, and notes that it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and \u201cclassified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an \u2018essential\u2019 broad spectrum antiparasitic, antibiotic, and has demonstrated broad antiviral activity against RNA viruses, including HIV, Zika, MERS and coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to the paper, Campbell said, Molnupiravir \u2014 though still going through trials and safety testing \u2014 is believed to \u201cwork against seasonal and pandemic flu, MERS, coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2.\u201d The paper\u2019s author noted that Molnupiravir does not inhibit inflammation, whereas ivermectin does.<\/p>\n How do the two drugs compare on cost? Ivermectin is exponentially cheaper than Merck\u2019s new Molnupiraravir.<\/p>\n The cost of a complete five-day course of Molnupiravir is $700 \u2014 or $70 per pill. That amounts to a 4,000% markup<\/a> over what it costs Merck to make the drug.<\/p>\n Citing 2013 prices<\/a> provided by the WHO, Campbell said a five-day course of ivermectin \u2014 10 3mg pills \u2014 costs $0.53. (However, at today\u2019s U.S. prices, 10 3mg pills cost about $39<\/a>).<\/p>\n On effectiveness, Molnupiravir is lacking data. The only publicly available clinical data on Molnupiravir comes from a Merck press statement<\/a> claiming the new drug is 50% effective against hospitalizations and deaths, when used as an early treatment.<\/p>\n For ivermectin, using publicly available data, Campbell referred to one peer-reviewed study<\/a> that pegs ivermectin\u2019s effectiveness in early treatment at 62%, and an ongoing meta-analysis<\/a> which shows ivermectin is 66% effective in early treatment and 86% effective as a prophylactic.<\/p>\n Using VigiBase<\/a>, a WHO database on pharmaceutical safety data, Campbell showed that out of\u00a0 3.7 billion doses given of ivermectin there have been only 5,693 reports of adverse events \u2014 far fewer, according to Campbell, than the number of adverse event reports associated with amoxicillin and ibuprofen, both widely used and considered safe.<\/p>\n Comparable safety information for Merck\u2019s Molnupiravir is not yet available, as trials and studies are still ongoing. But Campbell did raise concern about\u00a0 Molnupiravir\u2019s mutagenic properties. He cited the Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics<\/a> paper<\/a> which states, \u201cthere is some concern about the safety of [Molnupiravir\u2019s] NHC-nucleoside triphosphate, which is mutagenic to mammalian cells.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Campbell, Merck denies this is a problem. But the paper suggests, at the very least,\u201d it needs looking into,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n Watch the video here:<\/strong><\/p>\n