Molnupiravir not a part of National Protocol due to safety concerns says ICMR Chief Balram Bharg

On going pandemic has increased the need of new treatments to manage the novel corona virus, newer drugs like Remedisivir, and Molnupiravir were introduced to the market however their adverse effects are a huge question in using them as a treatment.

Some major saftey concerns including teratogenicity, mutagenicity and also potential to cause cartilage damage and muscle damage,  was brought to light by the ICMR Chief Dr Balram Bhargava, he stated that the recently approved COVID-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir has not been included in the national protocol for treatment of coronavirus.

Bhargava said the US has approved it based on only 1,433 patients in which three percent reduction was observed in symptoms in patients with mild to moderate disease. He stressed that it is not part of the national treatment protocol for COVID-19. "We have concerns about the drug and its use during lactation, in children, soft-tissue injuries, reproductive age group," he said, adding that they have debated on its usage twice and will further debate over it. 

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Molnupiravir has major safety concerns, hence not part of National Protocol: ICMR chief Balram Bhargava