Asian Tech Press (Jan 20) -- BioNTech partner Fosun Pharma has been licensed by a UN-backed agency to produce and supply low-cost versions of Merck's COVID-19 pill molnupiravir to low- and middle-income countries.

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced on Thursday that it has signed agreements with 27 companies, including Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. ("Fosun Pharma", 02196: HK), to manufacture and supply high-quality, affordable oral antiviral drug molnupiravir to 105 low- and middle-income countries worldwide.

The sublicence agreements are the result of the voluntary licensing agreement signed by MPP and the U.S. drug company Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (MSD), which developed molnupiravir.

This initiative is intended to promote the affordability and accessibility of COVID-19 oral antiviral drug molnupiravir in low- and middle-income countries to help prevent and control local outbreaks.

According to MPP, the companies involved span 11 countries, namely, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Three Korean companies, including Celltrion Inc., Hanmi Pharm Co. and Dongbang FTL, were also selected by MPP to participate in the project.