RE:Another example of COVID-19 stock and grants it received.A bit more of what a big pharma can do after a jv. And how much they are willing to pay for something promising in COVID-19. And look at quick it can go.
So that TLT wants to enter this market seems interesting, especially when being recommanded at the end of the process by PHAC NML, that has a worldwide credibility!
Merck and Ridgeback Bio Collaborate to Advance Development of Novel Antiviral Candidate, EIDD-2801 May 26, 2020 Under terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will gain exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Moinupiravir (EIDD-2801) and related molecules. Ridgeback Bio will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, specified milestones and a share of the net proceeds of EIDD-2801 and related molecules, if approved. Merck will be responsible for clinical development, regulatory filings and manufacturing.
With $1.2B deal for molnupiravir, U.S. bets on Merck's oral COVID-19 antiviral Jan. 2022 Merck has struggled to develop therapeutics and vaccines to fight COVID-19. But the United States is betting that the pharmaceutical giant at last has a winner in its oral antiviral molnupiravir. On Wednesday Merck revealed a deal to supply 1.7 million courses of the experimental treatment to the U.S. for approximately $1.2 billion. Molnupiravir has yet to be approved, but it's shown promise for newly diagnosed, non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The drug, developed in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is in phase 3 testing. With positive results, Merck expects to apply for emergency authorization later this year.
Molnupiravir is Merck’s last-ditch effort at developing a COVID-19 countermeasure. In January, the company said it was scrapping two experimental COVID vaccines after data showed disappointing immune responses.
Merck also took an unsuccessful gamble on a drug for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the biological immunomodulator MK-7110. The company acquired the treatment in a $425 million buyout of Oncolmmune last November but halted its development after the FDA asked the company for more data. With that decision, the company voided a $356 million supply deal with the U.S.
But the drug giant has also had its struggles with molnupiravir. The company stopped development of the medicine for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in April after mid-stage data showed the drug wouldn't likely demonstrate clinical benefit in those patients.
Feb 2022
Merck & Co. and partner privately held Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said Tuesday they have completed manufacturing of 10 million doses of their COVID antiviral molnupiravir and are on track to make at least 20 million courses in 2022. The pair have supplied 3.1 million course to the U.S. government for use in the U.S., they said in a joint statement. "As we start 2022, more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths are being reported in the U.S. daily, which underscores the need for medicines including molnupiravir (EIDD-2801) that can be taken at home," Merck CEO Robert Davis said in the statement.