Merck is pulling the plugs on two potential COVID-19 vaccines following poor results in early-stage studies. The drugmaker said Monday it will focus instead on studying two possible treatments for the virus that also have yet to be approved by regulators. Merck said its potential vaccines were well tolerated by patients, but they generated an inferior immune system response compared with other competitors' new vaccines. The company is focusing its efforts instead on advancing clinical programs and manufacturing for two potential treatment medications for the virus: MK-7110 and MK-4482 (also known as molnupiravir. Molnupiravir is being developed in collaboration with Ridgeback Bio.
