Merck to take legal action against unauthorised distributors of its COVID treatment in China

Merck & Co said yesterday it would take legal action against some pharma companies after noticing that some manufacturers were supplying COVID-19 drugs to some provinces and cities saying the medicines were authorised by Merck.

It did not name the companies in the post on its official WeChat account in China.

Merck added that Sinopharm is the only legally authorised distributor of Merck’s COVID-19 anti-viral molnupiravir in China, which is sold under the brand name Lagevrio and was developed by Merck and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

It added it had started talks with Sinopharm on the drug’s production technology licence so that Sinopharm can supply the drug in China. Merck said in September that China National Biotec Group, an affiliate of Sinopharm, would make the drug.

Edits by EP News Bureau