Merck+1.57%
EU regulator recommends against Merck's COVID drug
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended against Merck & Co. Inc.'s drug Lagevrio (molnupiravir) treatment for COVID-19 on Friday.
According to the statement, the EMA decided not to endorse Lagevrio after it failed to demonstrate benefits in the treatment of patients not requiring oxygen support and who are at risk of their disease worsening. The company announced it will appeal the decision, claiming that the decision does not reflect the "compelling data demonstrated by the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial and from real-world studies."
The drug has been authorized for use in more than 25 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and China for the treatment of adults who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.