Caixin (January 21) reported that 5 Chinese companies are among 27 global generic-drug makers that signed
agreements with a United Nations-backed organization to produce versions of Merck & Co.’s Covid-19
antiviral pill for 105 poorer countries. Fosun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology
Co. Ltd., Shijiazhuang Longze Pharmacy Co. Ltd., and Shanghai Desano Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. were
authorized to produce both the raw ingredients for Merck’s molnupiravir and the finished product. Zhejiang
Langhua Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. will make only the raw ingredients. The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a
U.N.-backed public health organization working to increase access to life-saving medicines for lower-income
countries, will determine production volumes, when the drugs will be available and what countries will get
the medicines, but the drug makers may reach cooperation agreements with the MPP on distribution
channels.
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