Merck has inked pacts with multiple Indian companies: Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharma, Hetero Labs, and Emcure Pharmaceuticals to license and produce a forthcoming treatment for Covid-19.
The company, formally known as MSD, is in the process of developing molnupiravir in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The investigational oral antiviral drug candidate ‘molnupiravir’, is currently being studied for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“MSD has entered into these agreements to accelerate the availability of molnupiravir in India and in other low- and middle-income countries following approvals or emergency authorization by local regulatory agencies,” the company said. MSD India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD).
