COVID drug molnupiravir may be driving the virus to mutate — should we worry?

[Grim Reaper 6]

An antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 may be driving the virus that causes the disease to evolve, a new study suggests.

But is this concerning, or particularly surprising? Not at this point, and not really, experts told Live Science.   

Scientists analyzed more than 15 million SARS-CoV-2 genomes — genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 — and found that molnupiravirinduces a "mutational signature" that, if the virus isn't completely obliterated by a course of the drug, can be transmitted to other people. Molnupirivar works by causing mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that prevent the virus from replicating.

https://www.livescience.com/health/coronavirus/covid-drug-molnupiravir-may-be-driving-the-virus-to-mutate-should-we-worry

[+and-then]

Covid has now reached the point where it is increasingly indistinguishable from the common cold or at worst, a mild flu that endangers very few lives and those in subjects who are already elderly or otherwise frail.  Is it possible that it could be manipulated unintentionally and caused to become deadly again?  Probably, but it would take effort to accomplish that goal.

[Alchopwn]

3 hours ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

An antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 may be driving the virus that causes the disease to evolve, a new study suggests.

This could be potentially useful.  If we can control the way the virus mutates via the drugs it interacts with...  We can potentially slam that virus into a wall. (figuratively)

Edited September 26 by Alchopwn

[Grim Reaper 6]

33 minutes ago, Alchopwn said:

This could be potentially useful.  If we can control the way the virus mutates via the drugs it interacts with...  We can potentially slam that virus into a wall. (figuratively)

That would be great, however based upon the unpredictable manner that cause viral mutations I don’t think our scientific community has the ability to control them. Viruses mutate because of defectives in their RNA during the replication process when they invade cells, the more a virus can replicate the mutations that will occur. Currently these defects in their genetic code good or bad cannot be replicated or controlled by researchers, but this may give the researchers a better idea how to manage the problem. 

[Alchopwn]

Just now, Grim Reaper 6 said:

That would be great, however based upon the unpredictable manner that cause viral mutations I don’t think our scientific community has the ability to control them. Viruses mutate because of defectives in their RNA during the replication process when they invade cells, the more a virus can replicate the mutations that will occur. Currently these defects in their genetic code good or bad cannot be replicated or controlled by researchers, but this may give the researchers a better idea how to manage the problem. 

Good point.  I was not pretending that we had the capacity to control the virus at this moment, but with genome sequencing and CRISPR who knows how soon it can happen?  I try to look on the upside/Opportunities presented by any situation. 

Edited September 26 by Alchopwn

[Grim Reaper 6]

32 minutes ago, Alchopwn said:

Good point.  I was not pretending that we had the capacity to control the virus at this moment, but with genome sequencing and CRISPR who knows how soon it can happen?  I try to look on the upside/Opportunities presented by any situation. 

It would certainly be a world changing situation if we could control how a virus mutates, it would be the end of all viruses. Looking at the upside / opportunities is great way to go, I also try to do the same thing.

[Grim Reaper 6]

5 hours ago, and-then said:

Covid has now reached the point where it is increasingly indistinguishable from the common cold or at worst, a mild flu that endangers very few lives and those in subjects who are already elderly or otherwise frail.

That’s true it certainly has, unless it merges with the MERS virus or a novel viral strain of the Coronavirus it appears we dodged a bullet.

5 hours ago, and-then said:

Is it possible that it could be manipulated unintentionally and caused to become deadly again?  Probably, but it would take effort to accomplish that goal.

At our present level of scientific knowledge, controlling the way a virus mutates is impossible. The use of the drug Molnupiravir and its possible ability to cause viral mutations is an unintentional side effect. However, the article in the OP clearly states that the mutations caused can not be controlled and that they can be positive or negative in nature.