LONDON: Merck & Co Inc.
said on Monday it has apply for permits for US emergency use for the medicine to treat mild to moderate patients in Covid-19, put it on track to become the first oral antivirus drug for disease.
Authorization of the US Food and Drug Administration can help change Covid-19 clinical management because pills can be taken at home.
Care, Molnupiravir, cut the rate of hospitalization and 50% death in trials of patients who have mild to medium have at least one risk factor for this disease, according to data released earlier this month.
Data for temporary efficacy on drugs, developed with Ridgeback biototapeutika, has greatly copied the stock maker of Covid-19 vaccine and triggered the struggle between countries, including Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore, to sign an agreement with Merck.
The drug maker has a US government contract to supply 1.7 million courses at a price of $ 700 per course.
Merck hopes to produce 10 million maintenance programs at the end of 2021.
It has also agreed to license drugs to several generic drug makers based in India, which are expected to supply treatment to more than 100 low and medium income countries.
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Gilead Sciences Incus Antiviral Remdesivir is generally given only once the patient is hospitalized.
Monoclonal antibody drugs from the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
and Eli Lilly, which are usually infused as well, so far seen only limited use due to difficulties in managing them.
Merck shares opened around 1% higher before peeling some gains to trade at $ 81.32.
Merck is looking for first US authorization for Covid-19 pills
