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ICER Gives Cold Shoulder To Merck/Ridgeback’s COVID-19 Pill

 
• By Alaric DeArment

Group’s final report said evidence was inadequate to demonstrate a net health benefit versus symptomatic care for Lagevrio, a drug that has already taken a back seat to Pfizer’s Paxlovid.

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ICER's report said current evidence was inadequate to demonstrate a net health benefit for Merck/Ridgeback's Lagevrio versus symptomatic care • Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co., Inc. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP’s COVID-19 pill could face new challenges to its uptake after a new report from a US medical cost-effectiveness watchdog organization has called its overall benefit into question. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) had earlier indicated Lagevrio (molnupiravir) appeared to be cost effective, but its advisory committee questioned the benefit it offers.

ICER released its final assessment on oral COVID-19 therapeutics on 10 May, stating that by a vote of 11-2, its Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (Midwest CEPAC) found that the current evidence was not adequate to demonstrate a net health benefit for Lagevrio compared to symptomatic care alone

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