Molnupiravir speeds up recovery in high-risk patients with COVID-19 but has no effect on death or hospitalisations compared with usual care, confirm the long-awaited results from the PANORAMIC trial. 

The full findings from the UK-based randomised controlled study, which have now been peer reviewed and published in The Lancet, suggest the antiviral still has some advantage, including faster improvement of symptoms and reduction in viral load. 

Preliminary findings, released in October, have already resulted in health authorities updating their guidance on COVID-19 therapies, including the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce.

The task force now advises GPs against the routine use of molnupiravir (Lagevrio) in patients with mild COVID-19 but says it can still be considered if other treatment options are contraindicated or deemed inappropriate.