The effect of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir on SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity in infected and immune suppressed mice.

Further investigations are warranted to fully understand the role of immunocompromised individuals in VOC development and to inform optimised public health strategies. It is more likely that immunodeficiency promotes viral persistence but does not necessarily lead to substantial consensus-level changes in the absence of antiviral selection pressure. Consistent with mechanisms of action, molnupiravir showed a stronger mutagenic effect than nirmatrelvir in this model.