Pill that aims to force virus to mutate

[Old Greg]

I'm thinking this...

Alexei stays in the cocoon more than two weeks. Then he comes out………and…...………..he is a beautiful squirrel!

[DimPrawn]

“ Merck is launching its hunt for a coronavirus treatment with a pill developed by US academics that is designed to force an “error catastrophe” on viruses.

The compound, which is known as EIDD-2801, works by planting molecules in a virus’s RNA genetic material that then trigger a cascade of mutations, which ultimately kill it.”

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

Nothing can go wrong...

I'm thinking this...

[vetran]

Can cause mutation in human DNA does not mean that it is too dangerous to use. What matters is risk. If the drug causes harm in 1 in a million, but covid-19 causes harm in 1 in a hundred, then it makes sense.

yes but that is how many mutations in billions of people? How likely is it that one mutation may be successful in causing harm to millions or billions?

Covid19 is unpleasant but it mainly attacks the old and vulnerable, its possible to shield them or treat the Minority that have serious symptoms. Something nastier would make a lot more of a mess.

[MarillionFan]

What could go wrong? Indeed....

[Old Greg]

Water purifying tablets? Check.
Full tank of fuel? Check.
Crossbow? Check.
Spiked club? Check.

[NotAllThere]

Can cause mutation in human DNA does not mean that it is too dangerous to use. What matters is risk. If the drug causes harm in 1 in a million, but covid-19 causes harm in 1 in a hundred, then it makes sense.

[OwlHoot]

Yep. What can possibly go wrong?

Seems a complete no brainer that something which can disrupt virus RNA could do the same to human DNA.

(DNA transcription uses RNA as an intermediate, I think.)

[AtW]

Yep. What can possibly go wrong?

This -

“ A potential problem with EIDD-2801 is that tests on bacteria show that it could cause mutations in the DNA of human patients — though Dr Perlmutter said he did not expect this to be a safety issue in practice and noted that other so-called mutagenic drugs had reached the market.”

[Paddy]

“ Merck is launching its hunt for a coronavirus treatment with a pill developed by US academics that is designed to force an “error catastrophe” on viruses.

The compound, which is known as EIDD-2801, works by planting molecules in a virus’s RNA genetic material that then trigger a cascade of mutations, which ultimately kill it.”

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

Nothing can go wrong...

Yep. What can possibly go wrong?

[AtW]

“ Merck is launching its hunt for a coronavirus treatment with a pill developed by US academics that is designed to force an “error catastrophe” on viruses.

The compound, which is known as EIDD-2801, works by planting molecules in a virus’s RNA genetic material that then trigger a cascade of mutations, which ultimately kill it.”

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

Nothing can go wrong...