JAKARTA finalises deal with Merck to treat COVID - 19 ailments

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JAKARTA finalises deal with Merck to treat COVID - 19 ailments

JAKARTA, Oct 25 Reuters - Indonesia is finalising a deal with Merck Co to procure its experimental antiviral pills named molnupiravir to treat COVID - 19 ailments, its health minister said on Monday.

com business healthcare-pharmaceuticals mercks-covid - 19 - pill-cuts - risk-death - hospitalization-by - 50 - study - 2021 - 10 - 01 from a large clinical trial this month showed that the pill, made with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, cut hospitalisations and deaths by 50%. Merck asked for emergency use clearance from the United States earlier this month.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin told a news conference that the deal is being finalized so that the first shipment of molnupiravir may come at the end of the year after a visit to the company in the U.S.

So that we have enough stock to withstand a potential next wave, he said, adding that Indonesia and Merck are in talks to build a production plant in Indonesia to produce raw material.

Budi did not say how many pills are being procured. Merck did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Merck has signed supply deals for the drug with Malaysia and Singapore, as well as with Indonesia's neighbours Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Britain.

Indonesia was Asia's COVID - 19 epicentre in July, largely fuelled by the virulent Delta variant, although cases and deaths have largely plummeted recently.

The government said on Monday it is anticipating a potential infection spike brought by the upcoming Christmas holidays.