Beximco gets license to produce antiviral Covid drug Molnupiravir

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced that it has been granted a sub-license to produce Molnupiravir, an oral drug for the treatment of Covid-19.

This grant is part of the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool’s (MPP) network expansion of partnered generic manufacturers which includes Beximco Pharma, said a press statement on Thursday.

Molnupiravir is originally developed by MSD, a trading name of Merck & Co., Inc, Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and in partnership with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral to treat symptomatic Covid-19, which is authorised by the UK and US drug agencies.

Beximco Pharma will manufacture Molnupiravir in Bangladesh and expects to start domestic distribution and export from the end of 2022, following successful technology transfer and manufacturing regulatory approvals, under license from MPP.

The Company will continue to sell its own generic version of Molnupiravir (Emorivir), as announced on November, 9, 2021, under the World Trade Organization’s Least Developed Country (LDC) waiver in the meantime.