Benzinga | Dec 22, 2021 09:16AM EST

UK Calls For Additional Doses Of COVID-19 Antivirals From Merck, Pfizer

The U.K. government will buy more COVID-19 antiviral pills from Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) and Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) as it seeks to combat the surge in omicron infections.

* Britain has secured an additional 1.75 million courses of Merck's drug, molnupiravir, and another 2.5 million courses of Pfizer's paxlovid.

* Previously the U.K. had sourced 480,000 courses of molnupiravir and 250,000 courses of paxlovid.

* In November, Britain's health regulator became the first in the world to approve molnupiravir, describing the treatment as safe and effective following a quick review.

* The drug is authorized in people with mild to moderate Covid and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness.

* Paxlovid has yet to be authorized by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

* Price Action: MRK shares are up 0.34% at $75.80, PFE stock is down 0.29% at $58.78 during the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.