European Commission Asks Merck to Supply EU With Potential Covid-19 Treatment, Pending Approval
July 08 2020 - 12:25PM
Dow Jones News
By Cecilia Butini
Germany's Merck KGaA said Wednesday that the European Commission
asked the company to be ready to supply one of its medicines to
European member states as a potential treatment for Covid-19 if and
when its effectiveness is cleared for such cases.
The drug, whose commercial name is Rebif, is generally used to
treat relapsing multiple sclerosis. Clinical trials are still
underway to determine whether it can be used to treat Covid-19
infections, Merck said.
The German health-care and life-sciences company said that Rebif
doesn't have regulatory approval as an antiviral agent nor for the
treatment of Covid-19 infections.
It was previously reported by Reuters that Merck and Roche
Holding AG had closed a deal with the European Commission to supply
experimental Covid-19 drugs to European member states upon
request.
Roche didn't responded to a request for comment.
Separately, Merck said it has donated 290,000 units of Rebif to
the World Health Organization for use in a trial.
Write to Cecilia Butini at cecilia.butini@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 08, 2020 12:10 ET (16:10 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Merck KGaA (PK) (USOTC:MKKGY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Merck KGaA (PK) (USOTC:MKKGY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024