Merck

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced today that it signed agreements with 27 manufacturers to produce Merck’s COVID-19 pill. MPP’s agreements with the generic manufacturing companies cover the manufacturing of the oral COVID-19 antiviral medication molnupiravir, with supply set for 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The agreements come as a result of the voluntary…

Although Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has yet to receive emergency use authorization for its Paxlovid COVID-19 therapy, it plans to manufacture 80 million courses of the drug by the end of 2022. Pfizer had initially planned on making 50 million courses of Paxlovid (PF-07321332/ritonavir) in the same time frame. An interim analysis of the Phase 2/3 EPIC-HR…

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will collaborate with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-headquartered SaudiVax to design a manufacturing plant to produce biologics and vaccines for the Middle East and North Africa. Merck KGaA will also provide its integrated Contract Development Manufacturing Services as part of the partnership. SaudiVax intends to be the first Saudi company to manufacture halal…

Merck (NYSE:MRK) shares ticked up today on third-quarter results that beat the consensus forecast. The company also announced that it projects its oral COVID-19 antiviral molnupiravir to bring in between $5 billion and $7 billion in revenue next year. MRK shares were up 4.9% at $85.55 per share in early-morning trading today. MassDevice’s MedTech 100…

The managed care consortium Kaiser Permanente is suing Merck (NYSE: MRK) over alleged pay-to-delay agreements to withhold the production of generic drugs for Zetia and Vytorin. Zetia (ezetimibe) is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor while Vytorin combines ezetimibe with simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. FDA drugs treat high cholesterol levels. The lawsuit also names Glenmark, a…

Merck (NYSE: MRK) posted second-quarter results today that missed the consensus forecast on Wall Street, though the company expects up to 14% sales growth this year. The Kenilworth, N.J.–based pharmaceutical giant reported profits of $1.213 billion, or 48¢, off $11.402 billion in sales, nearly halving its bottom line while boosting sales 19% from Q2 2020.…

The antiparasitic drug ivermectin holds promise as a COVID-19 treatment, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics. The study authors conclude that ivermectin could reduce the risk of COVID-19-related death with moderate-certainty evidence. “Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease,” they conclude, adding…

The pandemic has eased throughout much of the world. But demand for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments continues to be brisk, according to ratings agency Moody’s. In general, the pandemic will contribute to the pharmaceutical industry’s projected EBITDA growth rate of 4% to 6% over the coming 12 to 18 months, the firm concluded. While a…

Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced today that it agreed to supply the U.S. government with its molnupiravir (MK-4482) for treating COVID-19. Molnupiravir, developed through a collaboration between Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is currently under evaluation in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and at least one risk factor…

The pharmaceutical industry is on the upswing and is poised to have a compound annual growth rate of 13.7% from 2020 to 2027, according to projections from Grand View Research. The industry’s resurgence is a good opportunity for employees in the sector, who frequently enjoy comfortable salaries. To get a sense of which pharmaceutical companies…