Heavy! Merck & Co. 's oral drug Molnupiravir has been approved in China

On December 30, the website of the State Food and Drug Administration released the latest news. According to the relevant provisions of the Drug Administration Law, the State Food and Drug Administration conducted emergency review and approval in accordance with the special drug approval procedures, and conditionally approved the import registration of Merck's novel coronavirus treatment Monoravir capsules (trade name: Lizhuorui /LAGEVRIO); For the treatment of adults with mild-to-moderate novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) with high risk factors for progression to severe disease, such as advanced age, obesity or overweight, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, severe cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, active cancer, and other severe risk factors. Patients should strictly follow the instructions of the doctor.

molnupiravir, developed by Merck and Ridgeback, received conditional approval from the MHRA as early as November 2021, making it the world's first oral COVID-19 drug to be approved. Currently, it has obtained marketing authorization or emergency use authorization in more than 40 countries or regions around the world, including the United States, the European Union, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China.

As of August, Merck has supplied more than 8.6 million treatment courses of Monoravir to more than 30 markets worldwide, treating more than 1.8 million patients, and has enabled more than 100 low - and middle-income countries or regions to obtain generic versions of Monoravir after local regulatory approval or authorization, including through voluntary licenses granted to generic drug manufacturers and drug patent pools. To contribute to the building of a community of health for mankind.

According to Merck, Merck signed a distribution agreement with Sinophelates Distribution Center Co., Ltd. for the import and distribution of molnupiravir, an oral anti-COVID-19 drug developed by Merck and Ridgeback, in China at the 5th China International Import Expo in 2022. This is a further elaboration of the cooperation after Merck signed a cooperation framework agreement with Sinopmedicine Group at the end of September, granting the distribution rights and exclusive import rights of Monoravir in China to Sinopmedicine Group.

It's worth noting that Merck's molnupiravir costs about $700 for a course of treatment in the United States, while Pfizer's paxlovid costs $529 for a course of treatment. Both drugs are approved in China. The high price may make ordinary patients forget, in the upcoming medical insurance negotiations, whether the two drugs can join the negotiations, reduce the price of drugs, to bring benefits to patients, wait and see!