India's Dr. Reddy's open to making Pfizer COVID pill after Merck deal

Morepen Laboratories

15/11/2021 16:09

By Krishna N. Das
    NEW DELHI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
 REDY.NS , one of a handful of Indian drug companies licensed to
make a new COVID-19 pill developed by Merck, said on Monday it
was open to making a similar pill from Pfizer, thought to be
even more effective.
    The new drugs, which unlike vaccines can be used to treat
patients once they contract coronavirus infection, are expected
to be a huge market. Merck  MRK.N  has given out licenses to
manufacturers in developing countries to ensure a swift global
supply, and companies are hopeful that Pfizer will do the same.
    "Yeah, yeah, absolutely," Dr. Reddy's co-chairman and
managing director, G.V. Prasad, told Reuters in an interview,
when asked about making rival products from the U.S. companies.
    "Dr. Reddy’s remains open to all opportunities," a company
spokesperson said separately.
    Prasad said Dr Reddy's, one of India's biggest drugmakers,
had not yet initiated any talks with Pfizer  PFE.N  before the
U.S. company sought regulatory permissions.
    Dr. Reddy's expects India's drug regulator to approve
Merck's molnupiravir as soon as the United States does. Britain
and Bangladesh have already authorised the drug, and India with
its 1.35 billion people could be a big market.
    "India is also processing the application. Merck is also
submitting the data here," Prasad said. "Approval is expected as
soon as Merck gets approval in the U.S."
    Molnupiravir, which Merck will itself market as Lagevrio,
was shown last month to halve the chance of high-risk COVID-19
patients dying or being hospitalised. The chance is cut by 89%
for adults at risk of severe disease in the case of Pfizer's
drug, Paxlovid.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2RW0N5
    Other licensed Indian molnupiravir producers include
Aurobindo Pharma  ARBN.NS , Cipla  CIPL.NS , Emcure
Pharmaceuticals  EMCU.NS , Sun Pharmaceuticals  SUN.NS , Torrent
Pharmaceuticals  TORP.NS  and Hetero Labs. Their deal with Merck
allows them to sell the product in India and some other
developing countries.
    Merck has signed deals to sell more than 6 million courses
of molnupiravir around the world. Bangladesh's Beximco
Pharmaceuticals  BXPH.DH  said last week it would sell a version
of the drug for 70 taka (82 cents) per capsule, or 2,800 taka 
($33) for a full course.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2RP5M1
    Prasad said demand would dictate its production of the Merck
drug, foreseeing a tough fight between the Indian companies.
    "In the end, it will be a race to the bottom, it will be
very competitive," he said. "There's not a lot of money to be
made with these products."
($1 = 85.7900 taka)

 (Reporting by Krishna N. Das)
 ((Krishna.Das@tr.com; https://twitter.com/krishnadas56 ;))