klinikfarma.com Molnupiravir , an antiviral drug that has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is now in the spotlight because there are reports indicating that this drug can increase the mutation rate of the COVID virus.
Indonesia has also included the use of the drug Molnupiravir in its guidelines for handling COVID-19 patients.
However, is there any evidence of side effects from administering Molnupiravir that trigger COVID-19 virus mutations in Indonesia?
Clarification from the Indonesian Ministry of Health
Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI), responded to the issue. Maxi stated that until now there have been no reports indicating that Molnupiravir administration causes mutations in the Corona virus.
“I have not received any updates regarding this issue. However, so far, there have been no reports confirming this,” said Maxi when interviewed by Health Liputan6.com at the Raffles Hotel Jakarta on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
Latest Research: Molnupiravir and Its Mutations
News about the potential for mutation of the Corona virus due to Molnupiravir emerged based on the results of a study published under the title “A molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in global SARS-CoV-2 genomes.”
In a paper published in Nature on September 25, 2023, researchers revealed that SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data showed evidence of extensive mutagenesis due to Molnupiravir use. This research is still in its infancy and requires further study to understand its effects more clearly.
