UK is 1st country to approve MSD Covid Pill

The United Kingdom announced this Thursday (4) that it is the first country in the world to authorize molnupiravir, the treatment in pills against Covid-19 developed by the American laboratory MSD (known as Merck in the United States and Canada).

“Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral against Covid-19 that can be taken at home,” Health Minister Sajid Javid said in a statement. .

“This will change the situation for the most vulnerable and the immunocompromised, who will soon be able to receive revolutionary treatment,” he added.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recommended that the drug be used after a person is diagnosed with Covid-19 and within five days of the onset of symptoms.

This is the first oral antiviral treatment for Covid-19 to be approved, before US regulatory approval — US advisers will meet this month to deliberate on the use of molnupirvir.

The drug, which will be called Lagevrio in Britain, has been closely watched since data last month showed it could halve the risk of hospitalization and death for patients who could develop severe Covid, provided it is administered in the onset of the disease.

The British government and the country’s National Health Service will confirm how the treatment will be implemented in patients in due course.

The United Kingdom today has one of the most serious cases in the world with Covid-19 infections. The country accounts for more than 140,000 deaths from coronaviruses and currently registers an increase in cases, with almost 1,000 hospitalizations per day.

Although the number is lower than that registered in the most severe moments of the pandemic, the authorities fear that the situation will worsen with the arrival of winter (northern hemisphere, summer in Brazil).

Last month, Britain made a deal with MSD to secure 480,000 molnupirvir pills.

In a separate statement, MSD said it expected to produce 10 million of the drug by the end of this year, with at least 20 million scheduled to be manufactured in 2022.

Shares of the US-based drugmaker rose 2.1% ($90.54) before the market opened.

In Brazil, Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) is negotiating to produce the antiviral for the SUS. The public laboratory is still discussing terms of the agreement with the company and is awaiting an estimate from the ministry on the demand for the drug.

The Ministry of Health awaits approval from Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) for emergency use or definitive registration of the pill.

After this step, Conitec (National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in the SUS) must still assess whether the product will be offered in the public network.