Thread by @DrEricDing

DON’T RECOMMEND USING THIS—the #COVID antiviral #molnupiravir is basically a genetic🧬 grenade that kills viruses but also spawns new mutant variants—new study finds mutant SARS2 coronaviruses SURVIVE & COMPETE! Dr @WmHaseltine: “WE ARE COURTING DISASTER”.
science.org/content/articl…

2) A widely used COVID-19 drug may be driving the appearance of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, sparking concerns it could prolong and even reinvigorate the pandemic. The drug, molnupiravir, produced by Merck & Co., is designed to kill the virus by inducing mutations in the viral genome

3) A survey of viral genomes reported in a new preprint, however, suggests some people treated generate novel viruses that not only remain viable, but spread.
“It’s clear that viable mutant viruses can survive [molnupiravir] & compete [with existing variants],” says @WmHaseltine

4) “I think we are courting disaster.” Says @WmHaseltine

But a Merck spokesperson disputes that the drug has led to the emergence of widely circulating variants.

(Of course @Merck downplays it). 🤦🏻‍♂️

5) some researchers downplayed significance of molnupiravir-caused mutations. “Right now, it’s much ado about nothing,” says Raymond Schinazi—noting with SARS-CoV-2 infecting millions of people, ➡️the virus is naturally mutating at a fast clip. (UMMM, NOT ENCOURAGING EITHER!) 😳