Repurposing Molnupiravir as a new opportunity to treat COVID-19

Abstract

With the emergence of new and re-emerging viral diseases, scientists have been working to produce new medications with novel targets and pathways. The discovery of safe and efficacious antiviral medicines is critical due to the constant introduction of new virus types and short lifetime of protection. Since the outbreak, there have been significant efforts to repurpose existing and licensed medications for rapid human testing and possible emergency use authorizations. The exploration of surviving medications for new restorative motives is known as drug repurposing. It is a successful, rapid, and highly reliable alternative to traditional drug methods. COVID-19 is being treated using a number of repurposed and new medicines. Molnupiravir is a repurposed Covid-19 medicine that was specifically developed to cure influenza and is used to treat mild to moderately ill Covid-19 patients with high risk of becoming seriously ill. The importance of medication repurposing, as well as the regulatory procedure for repurposed pharmaceuticals and Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, are summarized in this article.