Asian Tech Press (Dec 3) -- U.S. drug company Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (MSD) has reportedly filed an application to market its COVID-19 pill molnupiravir in Japan.

A Japanese subsidiary of Merck has applied for approval in Japan to manufacture and market molnupiravir, an antiviral drug that inhibits coronavirus replication, Nikkei reported Friday.

If approved, it would be the first COVID-19 drug in Japan to target patients with mild or intermediate symptoms.

The Japanese government has decided to spend nearly $1.2 billion for 1.6 million courses of Merck's COVID-19 pill.