Indonesia in talks to buy Merck's COVID-19 antiviral pill: Minister

  • 📰 ChannelNewsAsia
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 27 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 14%
  • Publisher: 66%

Singapore Headlines News

Singapore Latest News,Singapore Headlines

JAKARTA: Indonesia is 'finalising' a deal with Merck & Co to procure its experimental antiviral pills, named molnupiravir, to treat COVID-19 ailments, its health minister said on Monday

Results from a large clinical trial this month showed that the pill, made with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, cut hospitalisations and deaths by 50 per cent. Merck asked for emergency use clearance from the United States earlier this month.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin told a news conference after a visit to the company in the US that the deal is being finalised so that the first shipment of molnupiravir may arrive at the end of the year. "So that we have enough stock to withstand a potential next wave," he said, adding that Indonesia and Merck are in talks to build a production plant in Indonesia to produce raw materials.

Budi did not say how many pills are being procured. Merck did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Free BostApp makes it safe and easy to connect with people around avoiding close contact that spreads coronavirus. Download for free at Apple & Google

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 6. in SG

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Russia reports record COVID-19 deaths and casesMOSCOW: Russia on Saturday (Oct 23) reported a record 1,075 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours as Europe\u0027s hardest-hit country with dramatically low vaccination rates braces for nationwide curbs from next week. Despite multiple pleas from President Vladimir Putin and the availability of the home-grown Sputnik V v
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Johor crown prince says he tested positive for COVID-19, has since recoveredJOHOR BAHRU: Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and has since recovered after two weeks of \u0022down time\u0022. He revealed this on Friday (Oct 22) through a series of Instagram stories. In the first post, he uploaded a photograph\u0026 Who cares? May Allah heal you Tuanku with full Shifaq...Aameen YRA 🤲
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Romania tightens COVID-19 restrictions as cases surgeBUCHAREST: The Romanian government will reintroduce a night curfew and make health passes mandatory for entry to most public venues from Monday (Oct 25), as well as sending school children on vacation for two weeks, as it seeks to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The measures, expanding nationwid 所有打完針的人抗體不給力就回去補一針吧!
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

US administers nearly 413 million doses of COVID-19 vaccinesThe United States has administered 412,856,169 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country as of Saturday (Oct 23) morning and distributed 503,521,625 doses, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Those figures are up from the 411,963,025 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

3,598 new Covid-19 cases in S’pore; 6 more deaths bring tally to 300SINGAPORE — Singapore on Saturday (Oct 23) registered 3,598 new cases of Covid-19 and six more deaths due to complications from the disease.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Desperate for employees, US businesses struggle to hire amid COVID-19 pandemicNEW YORK: To keep the taps at his recently opened beer tasting room flowing, Peter Chekijian had no choice but to ask his main employees to come in seven days per week. The staffing shortage has also kept Chekijian from realising his goal of brewing beer on site, since he can\u0027t find contractors to finish i
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »