Faberco and RiteMed will bring Merck’s Molnupiravir to the Philippines
RiteMed and Faberco will bring Merck’s Molnupiravir to the Philippines once compassionate special permits (CSP) were filed with and approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Manila Bulletin reported that Merck’s Molnupiravir may be available in the Philippines as early as next month and can be initially accessed through hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the country.
Molnupiravir was the first oral antiviral drug that was clinically proven to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death from known SARS-CoV-2 variants by half
Faberco Life Sciences Inc., which was appointed by one of Merck’s manufacturing licensees to distribute the said drug in the Philippines, has partnered with RiteMed Philippines, Inc. for the latter to distribute the said drug to treatment sites, medical institutions, and hospitals once CSPs were filed with and approved by the country’s Food and Drug Administration.
According to Faberco Founder Kishore Hemlani, they’re confident that through the distribution channels of RiteMed, the said drug will reach healthcare facilities throughout the Philippines faster, giving more Filipinos access to the said drug the soonest possible time.
RiteMed President Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave said that the partnership with Faberco “puts RiteMed in a good position” in order to help more Filipinos survive the pandemic and was aligned with their mission to give access to essential medicines “by partnering with like-minded doctors and healthcare facilities”.
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Based on the report, Faberco was appointed as the Philippine distributor of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., a partner manufacturer of Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside US and Canada), which developed the antiviral drug.
The initial batches of Molnupiravir could be available in the country “by next month”, subject to regulatory approvals.
Food and Drug Administration Director-General Eric Domingo had said that the oral antiviral drug can be used by doctors and hospitals for COVID treatment through the Compassionate Special Permit (CSP).
The FDA allowed the use of “investigational drugs” — or drugs which weren’t yet registered or in the process of registration – if they’re covered by the Compassionate Special Permit.
Faberco will import Merck’s Molnupiravir for hospitals and healthcare facilities given a CSP for the said drug by the Philippine FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID.
The said drug will help alleviate the burden on the healthcare system as it allowed healthcare workers in hospitals to focus on severe and critical in-patients.
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