The antiviral molnupiravir may be aiding evolution of Covid virus, scientists say

Use of antiviral may be fuelling evolution of Covid, scientists say Study finds evidence virus can survive treatment with molnupiravir, leading to mutated versions that sometimes spread The Guardian

An antiviral drug used to treat patients with Covid-19 may be causing mutations in the virus and fuelling the evolution of new variants, scientists have said.

Molnupiravir, which is also sold under the brand name Lagevrio, is designed to mutate coronavirus to destruction, but researchers found evidence that the virus can sometimes survive the treatment, leading to mutated versions that occasionally spread to other people.

There is no evidence molnupiravir has produced more dangerous variants of Covid, but scientists said the mutations increased the genetic diversity of the virus in the wild and provided more options for future evolution.

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