Merck will share formula for its Covid pill with poor countriesAn undated photo provided by Merck shows Merck's experimental oral Covid-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir. Merck has promised assistance with technology transfer to any generic licensee that requires help to make the drug. Charles Gore, director of the Medicines Patent Pool, said the new agreement with Merck is the first transparent public health license for a COVID-19 medicine. Molnupiravir was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics of Miami, based on a molecule first studied at Emory University in Atlanta. Merck has submitted its clinical trial data to the Food and Drug Administration seeking emergency-use authorisation; a decision could come in early December.
