Benzinga | Dec 6, 2021 10:52AM EST

Merck Canada Announces Expansion Of Manufacturing For Molnupiravir, An Investigational Oral Antiviral Medicine For Treatment of COVID-19

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside Canada and the United States, announced today it has entered into an agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific to manufacture molnupiravir, Merck's investigational oral antiviral medicine for the treatment of COVID-19. This agreement is part of Merck's commitment to make this investigational medicine widely available globally, if approved for use by regulatory agencies. Molnupiravir is being developed by Merck in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Thermo Fisher's manufacturing site in Whitby, Ontario, will manufacture molnupiravir for distribution in Canada and the United Kingdom as well as markets in the European Union, Asia Pacific and Latin America, pending local market approvals. It is one of three manufacturing sites in the world for this therapy.

Merck also announced on December 3, 2021, that it has entered into a Supply Agreement with the Government of Canada for molnupiravir. Through this agreement, the Government of Canada has secured access to 500,000 patient courses, with options for up to 500,000 more in 2022.

Quotes

"We are honoured to be partnering with the federal and provincial governments in support of our country's preparedness against COVID-19. We can learn from this experience and apply the same determination to grow the life sciences sector more broadly, to help fight the world's health challenges," said Marwan Akar, President and Managing Director of Merck Canada.

"Thermo Fisher is proud to join Merck's global manufacturing network to provide support for the production of its investigational oral treatment for COVID-19," said Michelle Logan, Vice President, Drug Product North America, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

"Today's announcement is yet another demonstration of the success of our efforts to rebuild Canada's biomanufacturing and life sciences sector brick by brick and attract significant investments. This partnership will create good jobs for Canadians, secure domestic supply chains for medications, and make sure we're better prepared for future health emergencies,'' said the Honourable Fran?ois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

"Manufacturing molnupiravir here in Ontario will ensure that we have ready access to important new medications that, if approved, will be critical to protecting our progress in our fight against COVID-19. Doing so will also bring more jobs to the Province and is an important vote of confidence in our government's plan to build Ontario," said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.

"Since the outset of this pandemic, Ontario's strong life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors stepped up with their innovative solutions in the fight against COVID-19. Our world-class talent and highly educated workforce make our province the premier destination for manufacturing the therapeutics of the future. We congratulate Merck on this milestone in their partnership with Thermo Fisher and their made-in-Ontario solution in the fight against COVID-19," said Victor Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

"Ontario's world-class life sciences sector has played an essential role in our fight against COVID-19. This new partnership between Merck and Thermo Fisher Scientific will help manufacture a potential new treatment option right here in Ontario, ensuring that if it is approved, we are ready to deploy and further protect our progress against the virus," said Christine Elliott, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.