Merck partners with Indian drugmakers to increase access to COVID-19 drug

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Merck partners with Indian drugmakers to increase access to COVID-19 drug

Home/Pharma News | Posted 21/05/2021 0 Post your comment

On 27 April 2021, Merck & Co Inc (also known as MSD Pharmaceuticals) announced that it had partnered with five Indian generic drug manufacturers to expand production and access to its experimental COVID-19 drug.

Merck has signed non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Labs and Sun Pharma regarding its investigational oral drug, molnupiravir.

Merck has stated that, under the terms of the agreements, the companies are licensed to supply molnupiravir to India and over a hundred low- and middle-income countries, following approvals or emergency authorization by local regulatory agencies.

Molnupiravir has been developed by Merck in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The drug is an investigational oral antiviral agent currently being studied in a phase III trial for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19.

It has been stated that Merck is also donating more than five million dollars’ worth of oxygen-production equipment, masks, hand sanitizer and financial aid to support relief efforts in India. In addition, Merck is in discussions with the Medicines Patent Pool to explore the potential for additional licenses.

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