Merck allows Sinopharm to sell its coronavirus drug in China

On Wednesday, a statement was released by drugmaker Merck & Co, according to which the company will allow the Chinese company Sinopharm to distribute and import the COVID-19 antiviral drug molnupiravir on China’s territory in case of its approval. 

Merck & Co announced the signing of a framework cooperation agreement with Sinopharm, under which the Chinese pharmaceutical corporation is granted the right to distribute and exclusivity of the rights to import a medicinal product to the Chinese market.

In addition, according to this statement, China National Biotec Group, which is a subsidiary of Sinopharm, will receive permission to manufacture this drug in China. In order to assist in this production, a technology transfer agreement has been carried out by Merck & Co.

In the United States, the molnupiravir sale is carried out under the brand name Lagevrio. After the development of this drug, profits were shared in equal measure between Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapys.

Until Paxlovid, developed by one of Merck & Co's main competitors, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc, became more widely used in the US due to showing the best results in clinical trials, the antiviral drug molnupiravir was promoted as a possible game-changer in the treatment of coronavirus infection.