Prognosis

Merck in Deal With Sinopharm to Bring Covid Pill to China

  • Sinopharm, Merck are discussing tech transfer for molnupiravir
  • Deal raises prospect of more foreign Covid medicines in China

Molnupiravir antiviral medication.

Photographer: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Merck & Co. struck a deal with Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm to import and market its antiviral molnupiravir in China, in a tentative sign the country is considering more Covid-19 medicines from overseas developers.

Merck has also agreed to allow Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group to use its technology to facilitate the production, supply and commercialization of molnupiravir in China, according to a statement from the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant.