U.K. in Agreements for Merck/Ridgeback, Pfizer Covid-19 Antivirals in Development
October 20 2021 - 3:13PM
Dow Jones News
By Josh Beckerman
The U.K. government has reached agreements to secure two
Covid-19 antiviral treatments being developed, one by Merck &
Co. with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and one by Pfizer Inc.
The government secured 480,000 courses of molnupiravir, from
Merck and Ridgeback, and 250,000 courses of Pfizer's
PF-07321332/ritonavir.
The most vulnerable people would be eligible first, including
the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, the government
said.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee is
expected to meet Nov. 30 to discuss the pill from Merck and
Ridgeback. On Wednesday, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
announced today a commitment of up to $120 million to accelerate
access to the drug for lower-income countries.
The U.K. government said the antiviral drugs "will be
particularly vital in protecting those who may not get the same
antibody response to the vaccines as the majority of the
population."
Write to Josh Beckerman at josh.beckerman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 20, 2021 14:58 ET (18:58 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024