Japan health panel approves Merck's oral COVID-19 treatment

Reuters2021-12-24

TOKYO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - A Japanese health ministry panel on Friday recommended approval of the COVID-19 antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co Inc , part of plans by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to roll out new treatments by yearend as concerns rise about the Omicron variant.

The panel decision sets the stage for shipments of 200,000 doses across the country from this weekend, based on preparations announced earlier by Kishida.

Japan is betting heavily on oral treatments to keep serious infections and deaths at bay should a feared sixth wave of the pandemic emerge. The government agreed last month to pay Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics about $1.2 billion for 1.6 million courses of their drug molnupiravir.

In addition, Kishida announced last week a deal to procure 2 million doses of a separate antiviral pill developed by Pfizer Inc. And Japan's Shionogi & Co is expected to soon file for approval of its own treatment supplying another 1 million doses by early next year.

U.S. regulators on Thursday authorized the Merck pill for certain high-risk adult patients.

Countries rushed to buy Merck's molnupiravir after very promising initial results, but subsequent company data in late November indicated the drug was markedly less effective than previously thought. France cancelled its order on Wednesday.

Japan this week confirmed the first known cases of Omicron infections that could not be traced back to overseas travelers. Community transmissions of the variant have now been found in the western cities of Osaka and Kyoto, and a suspected case was announced in Tokyo on Friday.

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精彩评论

  • KYHBKO
    2021-12-27
    KYHBKO
    more countries are likely to follow suit. ‌$Merck(MRK)$‌- should see a rally in the coming weeks.
    • Nayazindagi
      ok
    • littlesweetie
      Merck's strength is its EPS and revenue growth for 2022 in other areas, not this covid pill. Merck is too late and too rush into covid.
    • FranklinMorley
      Now, Merck covid pill story is gone. Merck drug is not not so effective and with potential safety concern. Without this drug, Merck stock will go up.
    • MatthewWalter
      Move on with Merck normal life. Both revenue and EPS growth are strong in 2022. Missing covid is ok. Great value, particularly in 2022 inflation environment.
    • lemonadey
      Now investors should really sell vaccine stocks. The global epidemic is expected to end in 2022 and the economy will return to the right track.
  • Peem
    2021-12-26
    Peem
    Ok
  • PearlynCSY
    2021-12-26
    PearlynCSY
    The omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, discovered just a few weeks ago, is poised to dominate Covid-19 cases around the world. It’s a stunning new twist to the pandemic saga that has countries scrambling to prepare. In places like South Africa and the United Kingdom where omicron has been spreading fast, Covid-19 cases have doubled every three days or less. This includes people who were previously infected or vaccinated against Covid-19.
    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
    • RonaldNixon
      Omicron's influence is growing. I am so worried.
    • RodBeard
      Don't worry. The epidemic will be completely improved in 2022. Give up vaccine stocks and buy tourism stocks.
  • QSL
    2021-12-26
    QSL
    Good
  • MN27
    2021-12-26
    MN27
    Like pls
  • hpt
    2021-12-25
    hpt
    Ok
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