Asian Tech Press (Jan 20) -- Three South Korean drugmakers have been selected by a UN-backed agency to produce low-cost versions of Merck's COVID-19 pill molnupiravir, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced today that it has signed sublicense agreements with 27 pharmaceutical companies, including South Korea's Celltrion Inc., Hanmi Pharm Co. and Dongbang FTL, to produce and supply high-quality, affordable versions of molnupiravir for 105 low- and middle-income countries or regions worldwide, the report said.

Yonhap News Agency said, "Celltrion will make the finished drug and Dongbang FTL will produce ingredients, while Hanmi will produce both."

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug that inhibits coronavirus replication, was co-developed by the U.S. drug company Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (MSD) and Miami-based company Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.