Theo Sanderson

Feb 23, 2024 | nature.com | Joseph F Standing |Laura Buggiotti |Claire Smith |Theo Sanderson |Fiona Ashford |Adrian Shields | +13 more

AbstractViral clearance, antibody response and the mutagenic effect of molnupiravir has not been elucidated in at-risk populations. Non-hospitalised participants within 5 days of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms randomised to receive molnupiravir (n = 253) or Usual Care (n = 324) were recruited to study viral and antibody dynamics and the effect of molnupiravir on viral whole genome sequence from 1437 viral genomes. Molnupiravir accelerates viral load decline, but virus is detectable by Day 5 in most cases.

Dec 15, 2023 | medrxiv.org | Theo Sanderson

The authors have declared no competing interest. TS receives funding from the Wellcome Trust through a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship (210918/Z/18/Z). This work was also supported by the Francis Crick Institute which receives its core funding from Cancer Research UK (FC001043), the UK Medical Research Council (FC001043), and the Wellcome Trust (FC001043).

Sep 25, 2023 | nature.com | Theo Sanderson |I’ah Donovan-Banfield |Thomas Peacock

AbstractMolnupiravir, an antiviral medication widely used against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), acts by inducing mutations in the virus genome during replication. Most random mutations are likely to be deleterious to the virus and many will be lethal; thus, molnupiravir-induced elevated mutation rates reduce viral load1,2.

Sep 25, 2023 | inkl.com | Theo Sanderson |Stephen Griffin

However, the new study found that in some patients, the drug – which is supposed to weaken the virus – does not kill the virus, and instead these mutated viruses can spread. Researchers say their findings are helpful in the ongoing assessment of the risks and benefits of molnupiravir treatment.