MSD Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme and known as Merck & Co., Inc., in the United States and Canada, has announced that the company has decided to enter into non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements for molnupiravir with five established Indian generic manufacturers.

Molnupiravir is an investigational oral antiviral agent currently being studied in a Phase 3 trial for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19. MSD is developing molnupiravir in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

MSD has entered into these agreements to accelerate availability of molnupiravir in India and in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) following approvals or emergency authorization by local regulatory agencies.

The agreements have been signed with CIPLA Limited, Dr REDDY’s Laboratories Limited, EMCURE Pharmaceuticals Limited, HETERO Labs Limited and SUN Pharmaceutical Industries Limited – five generics manufacturers with World Health Organization (WHO) Pre-Qualified Manufacturing facilities and experience as major suppliers to global and key LMIC procurers. Under the agreements, Merck & Co., Inc., US will provide licenses to these manufacturers to supply molnupiravir to India and more than 100 LMICs. Merck & Co., Inc., US is also in discussions with the Medicines Patent Pool to explore the potential for additional licenses.

“Through partnerships with established Indian generics manufacturers, we are reinforcing our commitment towards expanding access to molnupiravir in India,” said Rehan A Khan, Managing Director, MSD-India Region. “We look forward to collaborating with these partners and supporting them in advancing our mission of improving lives.  We are in talks with the Government and other key stakeholders as we remain committed to expanding equitable access to medicines and bringing innovative treatments to the country.”