NEW JERSEY: Merck & Co Inc and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said today the Japanese government will pay about US$1.2 billion for 1.6 million courses of their Covid-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir.
Countries have rushed to sign deals to buy molnupiravir, since data last month showed that when given early in the illness the drug could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of developing severe Covid-19.
Merck expects to make 10 million courses of treatment by the end of 2021, with at least 20 million courses to be produced in 2022.
If it gets authorisation, molnupiravir, would be the first oral antiviral medication for Covid-19.
On Tuesday, the US government said it would buy another US$1 billion worth of molnupiravir.