United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has expanded its network of partnered generic manufacturers to include Beximco Pharmaceuticals.

Under the partnership, the company becomes one of the first Bangladeshi companies to be granted a sub-license by the MPP to produce molnupiravir, an oral drug for the treatment of Covid-19, reads a press release.

The oral drug was originally developed by MSD, a trade name of Merck & Co Inc, Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and in partnership with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral to treat symptomatic Covid-19, which received conditional marketing authorization in the UK from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency on November 4, 2021 and received Emergency Use Authorization in the US from the US Food and Drug Administration on December 23, 2021.

The sub-license agreement is a result of the voluntary licensing agreement signed by the MPP and MSD in October 2021 to facilitate affordable global access for molnupiravir.

Under this agreement, MPP may sub-license the production of the drug to global generic drug manufacturers to ensure a steady supply in different regions of the world.

Beximco Pharma will manufacture molnupiravir in Bangladesh and expects to start domestic distribution and export from the end of 2022, following successful technology transfer and manufacturing regulatory approvals, under license from MPP.

The company will continue to sell its own generic version of molnupiravir (Emorivir), as announced on November 9, 2021, under the World Trade Organization’s Least Developed Country (LDC) waiver in the meantime.

Managing Director of Beximco Pharma Nazmul Hassan said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we have remained committed to improving access to breakthrough Covid-19 treatments for the patients. We are delighted to have been granted a sub-license to produce molnupiravir by the Medicines Patent Pool.”

“To partner with such a prestigious organisation is a testament to the quality of our manufacturing capabilities and is also aligned to our corporate mission by enabling broad access to this oral treatment in many low and middle-income countries,” he added.