Merck agrees to let other drug makers make its COVID pill

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

LONDON -- Pharmaceutical company Merck agreed to allow other drug makers to produce its COVID-19 pill, in a move aimed at helping millions of people in poorer countries get access to the potentially life-saving drug, a United Nations-backed public health organization said on Wednesday.

The Medicines Patent Pool said in a statement that it had signed a voluntary licensing agreement for molnupiravir with Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

The agreement will allow the Medicines Patent Pool to grant further licenses to qualified companies who are approved to make the drug. Neither drug maker will receive royalties under the agreement for as long as the World Health Organization deems COVID-19 to be global emergency. Molnupiravir is the first pill that has been shown to treat the disease.

Charles Gore, the executive director of the Medicines Patent Pool, said the early results for molnupiravir were “compelling” and that he hoped this first voluntary licensing agreement for a COVID-19 treatment would lead to others.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/merck-agrees-drug-makers-make-covid-pill-80809848

[Lovie777]

1. I don't think the pills will be free . . .

drug companies making profit. Probably will charge a fortune.

[Gore1FL]

2. I don't begrudge them profits. That's the purpose of business.

I wouldn't be happy with price gouging.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Normally, since many countries have socialistic-type health systems

a country will purchase for use by their citizens. I expect like their Remdesivir (where Merck partnered with Gilead to manufacture that), Merck will get some kind of government contract here for some "x" number of doses, which I would assume would only be available by prescription.

Merck (along with their partner Ridgeback) submitted a request for an EUA for this product a couple weeks ago (so it is currently not authorized for use here in the U.S. and may take months for final EUA approval) - https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-ridgeback-announce-submission-of-emergency-use-authorization-application-to-the-u-s-fda-for-molnupiravir-an-investigational-oral-antiviral-medicine-for-the-treatment-of-mild-to-moderate-c/

[FBaggins]

4. "Neither drug maker will receive royalties under the agreement..."

"...for as long as the World Health Organization deems COVID-19 to be global emergency."

[BigmanPigman]

5. Rachel Maddow is covering this story now.

Other drug companies should do the same!!!