Almost 30 generics firms based across 11 countries have signed up to agreements with the Medicines Patent Pool to facilitate the supply of oral COVID-19 treatment molnupiravir to 105 low- and-middle-income countries. The move follows an agreement signed in October by the MPP with Merck.

Almost 30 generics firms based across 11 countries have signed up to agreements with the Medicines Patent Pool to facilitate the supply of oral COVID-19 treatment molnupiravir to 105 low- and-middle-income countries. The move follows an agreement signed in October by the MPP with Merck.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued in 2021, the off-patent industry stepped in to provide relief in a variety of ways, whether through securing supplies of essential medicines or helping to manufacture and distribute newly-developed treatments.

Merck and Lilly tackle some early challenges before striking voluntary licensing deals for COVID-19 therapies with Indian firms. Data around the use of these drugs in low- and middle-income countries could also potentially make them ‘more acceptable’ elsewhere, experts say.