Merck & Co. Inc and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said Tuesday they have signed an agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to supply up to 3 million therapies of its antiviral pill against COVID-19.
Merck will offer the pill, molnupiravir, to UNICEF during the first half of 2022 for distribution in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries, with appropriate regulatory clearances, the companies said.
The pill received authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December and has also been approved in several other nations, including India, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Many countries have signed supply agreements with Merck for the drug.
Merck said in January that it expects molnupiravir to be effective against the omicron variant of the virus, which has led to a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations around the world.
.
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
