• Login
  • Register
Nairametrics
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
Nairametrics
No Result
View All Result
Home Economy Socio Economic

Low-cost version of Merck COVID pill to be made for less-developed nations

Chidinma Anyalewechi by Chidinma Anyalewechi
January 20, 2022
in Socio Economic
Australia to buy 300,000 Merck’s Covid-19 capsule as cases hit record high
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Almost 30 generic drugmakers have struck a deal with a UN-backed agency to make cheaper or low-cost versions of the Covid-19 recently approved pill, Molnupiravir, produced by Merck & Co’s (MRK.N).

The low-cost versions of the pill will be produced for nations who cannot afford the Merck pill, thereby widening access to a drug seen as a weapon in fighting the pandemic.

In December, the antiviral drug received emergency approval in the United States and according to clinical trial results has shown a potential to reduce hospitalizations and deaths of high-risk patients by around 30%.

RelatedStories

polio immunization

WHO, UNICEF warn of rising immunization gaps as nearly 20 million infants missed vaccination in 2024 

July 15, 2025
WHO , EG.5 coronavirus variant, US, China

WHO backs global use of twice-yearly Lenacapavir Injection for HIV prevention

July 15, 2025

The agreement has been reached by the U.N.-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Merck & Co’s.

This agreement grants the 27 generic drugmakers from India, China and other countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, the go-ahead to produce ingredients and the finished drug.

According to the MPP, the details of the deal stipulates that the pill would be distributed to 105 less-developed nations.

It is also worthy of note that the developers of molnupiravir, that is, Merck & Co’s, a U.S. firm Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Emory University, will not receive royalties for the sale of the low-cost versions produced by generic drugmakers so long as COVID-19 remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Executive Director of the MPP, Charles Gore, said, “This is a critical step towards ensuring global access to an urgently needed COVID-19 treatment and we are confident that, as manufacturers are working closely with regulatory authorities, the anticipated treatments will be rapidly available.”

Other pharmaceuticals involved in the production of the low-cost pill are; Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharmaceuticals, India’s Natco Pharma (NATP.NS), South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (APNJ.J) and China’s Fosun Pharma are among generics firms that will produce the finished product.

Tags: Covid-19Merck COVID pillMolnupiravirWHOWorld Health Organization
Chidinma Anyalewechi

Chidinma Anyalewechi

For further inquiries about this article, contact: Email: chidinma.anyalewechi@nairametrics.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chidinma-anyalewechi-a323ab173/

Related Posts

polio immunization
Health

WHO, UNICEF warn of rising immunization gaps as nearly 20 million infants missed vaccination in 2024 

July 15, 2025
WHO , EG.5 coronavirus variant, US, China
Health

WHO backs global use of twice-yearly Lenacapavir Injection for HIV prevention

July 15, 2025
WHO,
Health

WHO pushes for 50% health tax hike on tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks globally to curb chronic diseases

July 3, 2025
Global leaders pledge over $170 million to WHO in push for sustainable health financing 
Health

Global leaders pledge over $170 million to WHO in push for sustainable health financing 

May 21, 2025
WHO nominates Prof. Mohamed Janabi as regional director for Africa 
Health

WHO nominates Prof. Mohamed Janabi as regional director for Africa 

May 19, 2025
Nurses to account for 66% of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030 – Ihekweazu 
Health

Nurses to account for 66% of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030 – Ihekweazu 

May 10, 2025
Next Post
Debt Management Office releases FGN Bond issuance calendar for Q3 2022

Traders oversubscribe Nigeria’s Jan 2022 FGN Bond paying 13% by N139 billion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Emple
nlng
first bank








DUNS

Recent News

  • BREAKING: GTCO becomes first banking stock to cross N100 on NGX 
  • Analysts predict naira won’t drop beyond N1,600 in H2 2025, cite reasons 
  • Beyond Hype: Building an AI-Ready business in Africa 

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

Breaking news

BREAKING: GTCO becomes first banking stock to cross N100 on NGX 

July 16, 2025

Analysts predict naira won’t drop beyond N1,600 in H2 2025, cite reasons 

July 16, 2025
  • iOS App
  • Android App
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Markets
  • Sectors
  • Economy
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Ads Disclaimer
  • Copyright Infringement

© 2025 Nairametrics

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2025 Nairametrics