The drug molnupiravir from the manufacturer Merck has been approved in Great Britain as an agent against Covid-19. So far, only remdesivir has been approved as an active ingredient against symptoms of corona in the EU.
Great Britain was the first country in the world to approve a pill developed by the US companies Merck and Ridgeback Therapeutics for use as a drug against corona. This was announced by the British drug approval authority MHRA. The pill called molnupiravir (MSD) should be taken as soon as possible after a positive corona test, but no later than five days after the onset of symptoms. Ten million pills are to be produced this year. Another 20 million are to be added in 2022.
Eight different drugs in the test procedure
However, Merck is not the only manufacturer researching drugs against corona. The EMA experts are currently examining the data of eight possible Covid drugs at various levels. The test procedure of the manufacturer Eli Lilly has already been stopped. The pharmaceutical company has withdrawn the drug itself, the EMA announced on Wednesday. It was about a combination preparation of the two monoclonal antibodies Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab.
The EMA experts had been evaluating the data from studies by the manufacturer in an accelerated process since March. However, some questions about the quality of the drug still had to be answered, as the EMA announced. The company made the decision to withdraw the drug itself. But that does not mean that the drug is completely off the table. However, the drug may continue to be prescribed on the basis of national rules, it said.
So far, only remdesivir has been approved in the EU
In September, the EU Commission had concluded a framework agreement for the acquisition of the Covid-19 drug from Eli Lilly. 18 states wanted to take part. So far, there is only one drug approved for the treatment of Covid-19 in the European Union: Remdesivir.
FDA is considering emergency approval for Pfizer drug
The corona vaccine manufacturer Pfizer is also researching a tablet against the disease. The results of the latest study on the drug paxlovid are very promising. According to the company on Friday, it should reduce the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 by 89 percent.
The data should now be submitted as soon as possible to the US FDA, where a review process for an emergency approval is currently ongoing, as Pfizer announced. On the stock exchange, this caused a price jump of nine percent before the official trading hours.
(APA/red)