Covid-19 antiviral pill, molnupiravir, to be developed in Thailand and Indonesia. Photo: TNS
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3163475/coronavirus-thailand-indonesia-plans-covid-19-pill-be Southeast Asia
Coronavirus: Thailand, Indonesia plans for Covid-19 pill to be developed
- The two countries will develop the antiviral pill molnupiravir to combat coronavirus amid rising infections driven by the Omicron variant
- Thailand’s health minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Indonesia’s health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin separately confirmed their countries are planning to make versions of the drug
Molnupiravir antiviral pill to be developed in Thailand and Indonesia. Photo: AP
Thailand’s health minister said on Friday the country planned to develop the antiviral pill molnupiravir to combat Covid-19 infections amid rising infections driven by the Omicron variant.
The molnupiravir Covid-19 treatment pill for adult patients at risk of developing severe illness was jointly developed by US-based Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
The Southeast Asian nation intends to join other countries in the region also planning to make versions of the drug including Bangladesh.
“For molnupiravir, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has plans to co-develop (this drug) with the Chulabhorn Research Institute,” Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told a news conference.
“A committee will research and produce the reactants, which will be additional support for future events,” he said.
Separately, Indonesia’s health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Friday the country also planned to develop molnupiravir in partnership with pharmaceutical company PT Amarox Pharma Global starting in April or May.
Indonesia approved molnupiravir for emergency use this week and 400,000 pills have arrived. Thailand has ordered 50,000 courses of molnupiravir from Merck and was still in discussion with Pfizer for 50,000 courses of its drug Paxlovid.