Merck to Allow 5 India Generics Manufacturers to Make Covid-19 Treatment
April 27 2021 - 7:30AM
Dow Jones News
By Chris Wack
Merck & Co. said it has entered into non-exclusive voluntary
licensing agreements for molnupiravir with five established Indian
generics manufacturers.
Merck's molnupiravir is an investigational oral antiviral agent
being studied in a Phase 3 trial for the treatment of
non-hospitalized patients with confirmed Covid-19. Merck is
developing molnupiravir in collaboration with Ridgeback
Biotherapeutics.
Merck has entered into these agreements to speed up availability
of molnupiravir in India and in other low- and middle-income
countries following approvals or emergency authorization by local
regulatory agencies.
The agreements have been signed with Cipla Ltd., Dr. Reddy's
Laboratories Ltd., Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Hetero Labs Ltd.
and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., five generics manufacturers
with World Health Organization pre-qualified manufacturing
facilities and experience as major drug suppliers.
Under the agreements, Merck will provide licenses to these
manufacturers to supply molnupiravir to India and more than 100
low- and middle-income countries. Merck is also in discussions with
the Medicines Patent Pool to explore the potential for additional
licenses.
Merck said it would also donate more than $5 million worth of
oxygen-production equipment, masks, hand sanitizer and financial
aid to support relief efforts in India.
Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 27, 2021 07:15 ET (11:15 GMT)
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