US To Buy Another $1B Worth Of Merck Treatment Pill

November 9, 2021 Coronavirus, Medicine

The U.S. government will buy another $1 billion worth of the COVID-19 pill made by Merck & Co Inc and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the companies said on Tuesday. The government in June agreed to buy 1.7 million courses of molnupiravir for $1.2 billion and is now exercising options to buy 1.4 million more.

That brings the total secured courses to 3.1 million and worth $2.2 billion. Merck said the government has the right to buy 2 million more courses as part of the contract.

Several countries have rushed to sign deals with Merck for the drug, which could become the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Britain last week became the first country in the world to clear the use of the capsules.

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Explainer: How does Merck’s COVID-19 pill compare to Pfizer’s? https://t.co/rYStZZXIp1 pic.twitter.com/VYMPy6wKvK

— Reuters U.S. News (@ReutersUS) November 8, 2021