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Japan health panel approves Merck's oral COVID-19 treatment

Reuters2021-12-24

TOKYO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - A Japanese health ministry panel on Friday recommended approval of the COVID-19 antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co Inc , part of plans by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to roll out new treatments by yearend as concerns rise about the Omicron variant.

The panel decision sets the stage for shipments of 200,000 doses across the country from this weekend, based on preparations announced earlier by Kishida.

Japan is betting heavily on oral treatments to keep serious infections and deaths at bay should a feared sixth wave of the pandemic emerge. The government agreed last month to pay Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics about $1.2 billion for 1.6 million courses of their drug molnupiravir.

In addition, Kishida announced last week a deal to procure 2 million doses of a separate antiviral pill developed by Pfizer Inc. And Japan's Shionogi & Co is expected to soon file for approval of its own treatment supplying another 1 million doses by early next year.

U.S. regulators on Thursday authorized the Merck pill for certain high-risk adult patients.

Countries rushed to buy Merck's molnupiravir after very promising initial results, but subsequent company data in late November indicated the drug was markedly less effective than previously thought. France cancelled its order on Wednesday.

Japan this week confirmed the first known cases of Omicron infections that could not be traced back to overseas travelers. Community transmissions of the variant have now been found in the western cities of Osaka and Kyoto, and a suspected case was announced in Tokyo on Friday.

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Comment78

  • KYHBKO
    ·2021-12-27
    more countries are likely to follow suit. ‌$Merck(MRK)$‌- should see a rally in the coming weeks.
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    • Nayazindagi
      ok
      2021-12-29
      Reply
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    • twizzy
      Vaccination benefits everyone in the world. The global economy needs recovery.
      2021-12-28
      Reply
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    • clipzy
      Sell vaccine stocks and buy stocks of travel and airline companies.
      2021-12-28
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  • Natnaiviv
    ·2021-12-27
    Hope this can be the beginning of killing the covid virus
    Reply
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  • Wenikho
    ·2021-12-27
    Ok
    Reply
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  • LennartM
    ·2021-12-27
    like pls
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  • Cvt
    ·2021-12-27
    Good
    Reply
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  • Fayedea
    ·2021-12-27
    Latest
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  • iotz05
    ·2021-12-26
    oh, good! 
    Reply
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    • Foxie
      Yes
      2021-12-27
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  • Otaku_Hui88
    ·2021-12-26
    Huat huat 
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  • Peem
    ·2021-12-26
    Ok
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    • Kazren
      Ok
      2021-12-26
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  • PearlynCSY
    ·2021-12-26
    The omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, discovered just a few weeks ago, is poised to dominate Covid-19 cases around the world. It’s a stunning new twist to the pandemic saga that has countries scrambling to prepare. In places like South Africa and the United Kingdom where omicron has been spreading fast, Covid-19 cases have doubled every three days or less. This includes people who were previously infected or vaccinated against Covid-19.
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    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
      2021-12-28
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    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
      2021-12-28
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    • PearlynCSY
      Tks for sharing
      2021-12-28
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  • QSL
    ·2021-12-26
    Good
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  • MN27
    ·2021-12-26
    Like pls
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    • QSL
      like
      2021-12-26
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  • Annalz
    ·2021-12-26
    Merk is much more reliable pills company than others
    Reply
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  • hpt
    ·2021-12-25
    Ok
    Reply
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    • Peem
      ok

      ok

      2021-12-26
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  • Bull1973
    ·2021-12-25
    Ok
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  • BYLI
    ·2021-12-25
    Nice 👍🏻
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  • 来人
    ·2021-12-25
    Nice 
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  • Ah Deck
    ·2021-12-25
    Like pls
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  • HENRYCSC
    ·2021-12-25
    Like pls 
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  • Gladys8jk
    ·2021-12-25
    Ok
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