SRINAGAR: If everything goes as per the script, a wonder pill could be marketed by early 2022 to fight the Covid19 pandemic. Vast clinical trials have indicated that the pill reduces hospitalisation hugely and deaths by half.
The experimental Covid19 treatment pill named molnupiravir is being developed by Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, global newsgatherer Reuters reported.
If approved by the US government, it could somehow bridge the gap between the vaccine have’s and have not’s. The manufacturers have applied for emergency clearance of the first pill on October 11. “The US drug-maker has taken the unusual pandemic step of licensing several generics of its antiviral molnupiravir before its branded version was even authorized for marketing,” the report said. If permitted, the drug-maker plans to manufacture 10 million treatment courses of the pill this year and 20 million next year.
The patient is supposed to take the pill, twice a day for five days. A course would cost around the US $700 (Rs 50,000). However, the drug would become cheaper in India where eight pharmaceutical companies are expected to manufacture it. The licensed Indian manufacturers including Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla Ltd, Dr Reddy’s Labs, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Labs, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals.
“Merck said it has worked on the technology transfer needed to start generic manufacturing, in contrast to vaccine makers who continue to resist calls to waive patents or allow for generic versions to boost supplies,” the report added.
