Strides Pharma, Medicines Patent Pool ink pact to commercialize molnupiravir for global markets

Bengaluru: Strides Pharma Science Limited, a global pharmaceutical company, has recently announced its partnership with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to commercialize molnupiravir in the international markets.

Strides and its subsidiary, Universal Corporation Limited (Kenya), have entered into a voluntary non‐exclusive sub‐license partnership with MPP covering 105 countries as part of MSD and MPP's partnership to enable a global reach for molnupiravir. Strides and UCL will manufacture the product at their WHO PQ facilities in India and Nairobi, Kenya. UCL owns and operates one of the two WHO PQ facilities in the Sub‐Saharan region.

In December 2021, Strides received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the DCGI to launch molnupiravir 200mg in India (under the brand name Stripiravir). Besides the 200mg strength, Strides has also developed and manufactured molnupiravir in 400mg, which significantly benefits the patients by reducing the pill burden and ensuring better compliance.

Dr. R Ananthanarayanan, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Strides Pharma Science Limited said, "We are pleased to partner with MPP for providing global accessibility of the generic molnupiravir both from India and Kenya. While our 200mg strength has been launched in India under our brand Stripiravir, this partnership will enable us to commercialize the 400mg dose along with 200mg dose for global markets, extending considerable patient benefits with higher compliance and better administration. With the challenging covid situation in different parts of the world, Strides group will continue to develop and manufacture high‐quality generic products that would benefit the healthcare system and patients."

Molnupiravir is an orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS‐CoV‐2, and clinical studies have shown this drug to be active against the most common Covid‐19 variants. The drug has been granted approval by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a safe and effective medication for patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID‐19. The drugs also recently received the USFDA's Emergency Use Authorization. The drug was invented by Emory University (Atlanta, USA) and was developed by Merck & Co., Inc. in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

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