Two short approaches to the COVID-19 drug β-D--hydroxycytidine and its prodrug molnupiravir.

Molnupiravir, the prodrug for β-D--hydroxycytidine (NHC), is marketed by Merck as Lagevrio™ against mild-moderate COVID-19, under FDA emergency use authorization. It is the first oral drug against the disease. This work describes two synthetic approaches to NHC and molnupiravir by amide activation in uridine with a peptide-coupling agent and with a 4-chloropyrimidinone nucleoside intermediate.

Intranasal Sufentanil Versus Intravenous Morphine for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

Background: Patients in the United States frequently seek medical attention in the emergency department (ED) to address their pain. The intranasal (i.n.