An in vitro study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [1] showed that the new drug developed for COVID-19 could cause mutations in mammalian cells. This raises the possibility that molnupiravir can cause cancer.
Molnupiravir is the current drug that Merck is requesting the FDA to have Emergency Use Authorization to treat COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus. RNA viruses are made of chains of nucleotides. During viral replication, the exact sequence of nucleotides should be reproduced. Several nucleotide changes lead to mutations and viral death.
Molnupiravir causes mutations in the SARS-CoV-2. It does so by substituting β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine or NHC, the active metabolite of molnupiravir, for the cytidine or uridine nucleotides of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Once heavily mutated, the SARS-CoV-2 virus dies. No virus-no COVID-19 infection.
Study shows Mammalian Mutagenesis
An in vitro study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [1] revealed that the mutation-causing NHC and its other analogs could be processed and incorporated into mammalian DNA.
This leads to mutations in the host DNA which is a concern since mutations can cause cancer and other diseases.
Another research says no mammalian mutation
This study drew the Letter to the Editor in Response to Zhou et al. The letter said they conducted more laboratory tests and animal studies in rodents and pigs. Their results do not show mutagenicity.[2]
In contrast, we have conducted a more comprehensive series of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies which, based on the totality of the data, demonstrate a low risk for genotoxicity with Molnupiravir in clinical use.
It is worth noting that Merck funded the study, and the authors and editors are either employees or have financial interests and connections with Merck and molnupiravir. You can see it at the bottom of the letter. I copied and pasted it below.
Acknowledgments: Dean P. Campbell, PhD and Karyn Davis, BA of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA provided editorial support
Funding: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA
Conflict of Interests: J.B., C.S.D., P.E., J.G., D.H., and S.T. are employees of Merk Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA and may own stock and/or stock options in Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. G.P. is an employee of Emory University and has a financial interest in molnupiravir.
Merck stocks may go higher
Merck’s letter to the FDA was reported today, October 11, 2021. Below is a screenshot of pre-market trading for Merck on Yahoo Finance.
What will you believe?
The study that showed that molnupiravir could cause mutagenesis? Or the other study with all its conflicts of interest that shows no mutagenesis?
Whatever their conflicts of interest, scientist can still do valid and objective research.
We know that there is no long-term study in humans on whether molnupiravir can cause cancer. If it is approved, it will be under Emergency Use Authorization. Just like the Remdesivir and the COVID-19 vaccines.
Ivermectin
It is good the know that there is ivermectin. It has been used for decades and is known to be safe and not cancer-causing. A total of 64 studies have shown its effectiveness in all phases of COVID-19. All the studies can be seen on ivmmeta.com
Knowledge about Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Information updates studies are made. Stay current by subscribing. Feel free to share and like.
Don’t Get Sick!
Ivermectin related:
- What makes Ivermectin a kick-ass antiviral?
- An update to the I-MASK+ Prevention & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19
- IVMMETA.COM: A website of studies on Ivermectin’s efficacy
- Ivermectin vs Remdesivir for COVID-19
- Bayes Theorem Confirms Meta-analysis of Ivermectin’s Effectivity against COVID-19
- News that ivermectin overdose is clogging up hospitals is not true
References:
- Zhou S, Hill CS, Sarkar S, Tse LV, Woodburn BMD, Schinazi RF, Sheahan TP, Baric RS, Heise MT, Swanstrom R. β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Through Lethal Mutagenesis But Is Also Mutagenic To Mammalian Cells. J Infect Dis. 2021 Aug 2;224(3):415-419. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab247. PMID: 33961695; PMCID: PMC8136050.
- Letter to the Editor in Response to Zhou et al
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