Washington, Oct. 20 (BUS) – The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pills in low-income countries, if the drug is approved by regulators, according to reports. AP. .
The private foundation said in a statement on Wednesday that it did not specify how it would allocate the funds, but that it would use the funds “to support the range of activities required to develop and manufacture generic versions” of molnopiravir.
Merck has licensed its technology with generic drug manufacturers in India. Under the agreement, the company said it would grant licenses to manufacturers to supply the drug to India and more than 100 other low- and middle-income countries. It’s unclear how much of the generic drug might be available for use.
The Gates Foundation says its funding is also intended to help set up regulatory, delivery and other pathways in order to make the pill more accessible, if it becomes available.
The FDA has not authorized the pill, and its outside experts are expected to meet on November 30 to examine the drug. If approved by regulators, the drug would be the first pill available to treat COVID-19.
Trevor Mondale, head of the foundation’s global health program, believes generic drug manufacturers won’t ramp up their manufacturing unless they know there will be demand, and will likely wait until next year to start production.
Merck and partner, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, said preliminary results for the pills showed high-risk patients who received them within five days of COVID-19 symptoms had about half the rate of hospitalizations and deaths.
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