Merck Agrees to License Its Antiviral Pill to Medicines Patent Pool

Merck has struck a licensing pact with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-supported public health organization serving the developing world, to expand access to its experimental COVID-19 antiviral pill, molnupiravir, co-developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

The precedent-setting agreement marks the first licensing deal for a COVID-19 treatment inked with the MPP, which has previously distributed HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C drugs to poorer nations.

“The interim results for molnupiravir are compelling and we see this oral treatment candidate as a potentially important tool to help address the current health crisis,” said Charles Gore, MPP’s executive director ― citing phase 3 trial data showing molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 50 percent in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections (DID, Oct. 18).

Under the deal, 105 low- and middle-income countries will gain access to the treatment, following authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or national regulators. The pact stipulates that Merck and Ridgeback can’t accept any royalties on sales as long as the WHO considers COVID-19 an ongoing public health emergency.

The MPP agreement builds on a recent $120 million pledge announced by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to speed production of generic versions of molnupiravir to boost worldwide access to the antiviral. As part of its commitment, the foundation plans to offer generics makers volume guarantees, so the companies will be assured profits from their manufacturing investments. ― Jason Scott