Nov 9, 2021 - Health

U.S. to buy $1 billion worth of Merck's antiviral COVID pill

Jacob Knutson

Photo: Christopher Occhicone/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Biden administration will buy 1.4 million additional courses of a pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics to prevent or treat COVID-19, a purchase worth around $1 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: The U.S. has now committed to acquiring about 3.1 million courses of molnupiravir for $2.2 billion after the drug receives an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

What they're saying: “We’re honored that the U.S. government has chosen to purchase more than 3 million courses of molnupiravir, our promising oral antiviral, so that molnupiravir, if authorized, will be among the vaccines and medicines available to fight COVID-19 as part of our collective efforts to bring this pandemic to an end," said Frank Clyburn, Merck's president of human health.

The big picture: The United Kingdom became the first country to approve the drug last week.

The FDA is currently reviewing Merck and Ridgeback's emergency use authorization application for the drug.
Merck said last month that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by around 50% in a clinical trial.
Antiviral medications to prevent COVID-19 like molnupiravir will be key to preventing deaths and treating severe symptomatic cases of the disease since not all people will agree to get vaccinated.

Go deeper: Pfizer says COVID pill cuts risk of death or hospitalization by 89%

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U.S. to buy $1 billion worth of Merck's antiviral COVID pill

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