37% of Covid-19 survivors have at least one long-term symptom

https://www.mdedge.com/internalmedi...dgeeNL100121F&ecd=wnl_reeng_210930_mdedge_8pm

I've been saying this over and over so it is nice to see it expressed now in this study linked to above

It's not just death that needs to be feared regarding the SARS-CoV-2. Sure, the death rate is relatively small, around 1%... but 37% of sequelae is a whole other matter.

 

It is very important now to avoid this virus (advanced masks, vaccines) for now, because there is finally a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Not only we have good vaccines, but yesterday and today two new studies brought a bright ray of hope: Merck's and Ridgeback's new drug molnupiravir got excellent phase III results, and Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail casirivimab-imdevimab also showed excellent results. Atea Pharmaceuticals is also working on another antiviral similar to molnupiravir.

The big advantage of molnupiravir is that it hits hard ALL variants... because it targets viral polymerase, an enzyme essential to viral replication, which all variants possess. So, even with mutations, current and future, molnupiravir should continue to work well.

The study on casirivimab-imdevimab:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108163

The study on molnupiravir:

https://www.merck.com/news/merck-an...to-placebo-for-patients-with-mild-or-moderat/

This, added to the vaccines, and added to the fact that Delta is finally looking like it has peaked in the US, with new cases dropping 15% over the last two weeks, suggests that we may indeed be in great shape in a few more months.

Merck is applying immediately for EUA for molnupiravir and is also licensing their drug to more than 100 generic makers in low and middle-income countries, a commendable move.

Merck's drug is delivered by the mouth, without all the complications of Regeneron and Remdesivir which require IV administration.

Molnupiravir seems to be the biggest game changer we were waiting for (in addition to the vaccines)... a drug that is taken by the mouth and scores a big blow on the SARS-CoV-2. Also it seems very safe. Only 1.3% of patients in the phase III trial had to interrupt due to adverse reactions, and this rate was actually SMALLER than what happened in the placebo arm of the study.