Poor nations to get cheaper Merck COVID pill

Reuters Videos
2 年前

Poorer countries will get access to a cheaper version of Merck's COVID pill.

A U.N.-backed agency has struck a deal with nearly 30 drugmakers to turn out the treatment at low cost.

The molnupiravir antiviral pill received emergency approval from the U.S. in December.

It reduces deaths and hospitalisations among high-risk patients by around 30%.

But it costs around $700 per course, making it unaffordable for some countries.

Now the new deal should reduce that price to around $20 for 105 developing countries.

Merck won't receive any royalties on the low-cost drugs as long as COVID remains classified as a public health emergency by the World Health Organization.

There's no word yet on how many doses will be produced, but supply is expected to meet demand in the developing world.

Besides the new deal, Merck has also reached licensing agreements with eight Indian drugmakers including Dr Reddy's Laboratories.