DTMT Network

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics have announced the signing of a long-term supply agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to facilitate broad global access for molnupiravir, an experimental oral antiviral COVID19 medicine on January 18, 2022.

Under the agreement, Merck will allocate up to 3 million courses of molnupiravir to UNICEF throughout the first half of 2022 for distribution in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries after obtaining regulatory authorisations, a statement released by Merck stated.

Molnupiravir developed by Merck is developing in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics has been authorised for use in more than 10 countries across the world, the statement added.

“Through this groundbreaking agreement with UNICEF, millions of patients in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries will gain access to molnupiravir through UNICEF and the ACT Accelerator Therapeutics Partnership in the first half of 2022,” Robert M. Davis, chief executive officer and president of  Merck said.

“I am proud of the fact that patients in these low- and middle-income countries will gain access at the same time as patients in countries with higher incomes,” he added.

To accelerate wider global access for molnupiravir, Merck’s supply and access approach includes granting voluntary licenses to generic manufacturers and to the Medicines Patent Pool to help increase affordable, quality-assured supply in the developing world, and entering into supply agreements with governments and other organisations, the statement stated.

“Molnupiravir, which can be efficiently delivered to low- and middle-income countries, can play a significant role in global efforts to address the pandemic,” Wendy Holman, chief executive officer and co-founder of Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said.

“We are proud of this agreement with UNICEF to help address global health challenges and inequities by making molnupiravir accessible to patients around the world,” she added.