11/4/2021- 10:33 a.m.
Merck’s Red Pill Given Green Light by UK
Britain’s medicines regulator is the first to give the go-ahead for the anti-viral Covid-19 pill, hailed as a drug to combat infection and prevent hospitalizations.
Molnupiravir is an oral treatment which has already seen a surge of orders by govts despite no prior approval. The US is still evaluating Merck’s drug.
The UK has purchased almost half a million courses, while the US has ordered 1.7MN courses at a total cost of $1.2MN – effectively $700 per course.
Merck expects to make $7BN in global revenue by the end 2022.
