Chinese firms approved to make Merck's Covid-19 pills for poor countries | South China Morning Post

Five Chinese companies are now allowed to make cheap versions of Merck's Covid-19 pills to supply low-income countries, an UN-backed organisation said on Thursday. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology, Shanghai Desano Pharmaceuticals and Lonzeal Pharmaceuticals have permission to produce both the raw ingredients and finished product of the oral antiviral medicine molnupiravir, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) said on Thursday. Langhua Pharmaceutical is permitted to make only the raw ingredients, according to the MPP, a United Nations-backed organisation working to expand access to life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. They are among 27 companies from 11 countries, including…