Abstract: The n e w e ng l a n d j o u r na l of m e dic i n e Original Article Molnupiravir for Oral Treatment of Covid-19 in Nonhospitalized Patients A. Jayk Bernal, M.M. Gomes da Silva, D.B. Musungaie, E. Kovalchuk, A. Gonzalez, V. Delos Reyes, A. Martín‑Quirós, Y. Caraco, A. Williams‑Diaz, M.L. Brown, J. Du, A. Pedley, C. Assaid, J. Strizki, J.A. Grobler, H.H. Shamsuddin, R. Tipping, H. Wan, A. Paschke, J.R. Butterton, M.G. Johnson, and C. De Anda, for the MOVe-OUT Study Group*​​ A BS T R AC T BACKGROUND New treatments are needed to reduce the risk of progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Molnupiravir is an oral, small-molecule antiviral prodrug that is active against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with molnupiravir started within 5 days after the onset of signs or symptoms in nonhospitalized, unvaccinated adults with mild-to-moderate, laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 and at least one risk factor for severe Covid-19 illness. Participants in the trial were randomly assigned to receive 800 mg of molnupiravir or placebo twice daily for 5 days. The primary efficacy end point was the incidence hospitalization or death at day 29; the incidence of adverse events was the primary safety end point. A planned interim analysis was performed when 50% of 1550 participants (target enrollment) had been followed through day 29. The authors’ full names, academic degrees, and affiliations are listed in the Appendix. Dr. De Anda can be contacted at Merck, 309 Sumneytown Pike, North Wales, PA 19454. *The members of the MOVe-OUT study group are listed in the Supplementary Appendix, available at NEJM.org. This article was published on December 16, 2021, at NEJM.org. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2116044 Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. RESULTS A total of 1433 participants underwent randomization; 716 were assigned to receive molnupiravir and 717 to receive placebo. With the exception of an imbalance in sex, baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The superiority of molnupiravir was demonstrated at the interim analysis; the risk of hospitalization for any cause or death through day 29 was lower with molnupiravir (28 of 385 participants [7.3%]) than with placebo (53 of 377 [14.1%]) (difference, −6.8 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, −11.3 to −2.4; P = 0.001). In the analysis of all participants who had undergone randomization, the percentage of participants who were hospitalized or died through day 29 was lower in the molnupiravir group than in the placebo group (6.8% [48 of 709] vs. 9.7% [68 of 699]; difference, −3.0 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, −5.9 to −0.1). Results of subgroup analyses were largely consistent with these overall results; in some subgroups, such as patients with evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, those with low baseline viral load, and those with diabetes, the point estimate for the difference favored placebo. One death was reported in the molnupiravir group and 9 were reported in the placebo group through day 29. Adverse events were reported in 216 of 710 participants (30.4%) in the molnupiravir group and 231 of 701 (33.0%) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Early treatment with molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in at-risk, unvaccinated adults with Covid-19. (Funded by Merck Sharp and..