News Forum - Molnupiravir, the Covid-19 pill, to be developed in Thailand

[Thaiger]

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation is planning to partner with Chulabhorn Research Institute to develop a domestic version of Molnupiravir, the Covid-19 antiviral pill. The announcement was made by Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in response to the rising Omicron variant outbreak proliferating across Thailand, sending daily infection rates soaring again. Molnupiravir was developed in the US by a joint effort between pharmaceutical giants Merck in New Jersey and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics out of Florida originally. In November, Thailand was deemed not poor enough to be eligible for Merck’s generics programme and instead authorised the importing of the Covid-19 fighting drug. […]

The story Molnupiravir, the Covid-19 pill, to be developed in Thailand as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Haole.TH]

Why does this article state Molnupiravir will be "developed" in Thailand?  This drug was developed in the US. 

Is this article trying to state that this new drug will be manufactured here in Thailand using the US formula?  Or is Thailand going to try to reverse-engineer this new drug and that's why Chulabhorn Research Institute is involved?

Edited January 15, 2022 by Haole.TH

[Manu]

Quote

But after narrowly winning approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, subsequent testing showed that it was not nearly as effective as first thought. Still, the president of Merck Research Laboratories believes that it will be effective against the Omicron variant and any other strains of Covid-19.

And if he says so then it must be true. Basta.

[Rebel]

Developing is just another word for copying in Thailand. They have no shame 

[ThaiEyes]

Possibly another project destined to fail? Remember the whole A-Z debacle has REALLY impressed everyone so far. You would think that someone would learn after so much unfruitful wishing. 

Edited January 15, 2022 by ThaiEyes

[Cabra]

They can "plan" all they want... Merek will decide who and where it's proprietary drugs will be manufactured. Thailand is free to develop their own formulation of course. 

[Ynwaps]

16 hours ago, ThaiEyes said:

Possibly another project destined to fail? Remember the whole A-Z debacle has REALLY impressed everyone so far. You would think that someone would learn after so much unfruitful wishing. 

Law of Attraction

[Vince]

17 hours ago, Haole.TH said:

Why does this article state Molnupiravir will be "developed" in Thailand?  This drug was developed in the US. 

Is this article trying to state that this new drug will be manufactured here in Thailand using the US formula?  Or is Thailand going to try to reverse-engineer this new drug and that's why Chulabhorn Research Institute is involved?

Licensed generic maybe