The European Medicines Agency has OKd new manufacturing sites and a ready-to-use formulation for Comirnaty, while Australia has provisionally approved Ronapreve for treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis. The UK has secured supplies of two investigational antiviral products from Pfizer and MSD.

Chinese venture Brii seeks US emergency authorization for its antibody combo, as Chugai aims for wider use of its antibody cocktail in Japan and two other Chinese firms link up on an oral antiviral. 

Two Indian firms want to terminate specific Phase III trials for molnupiravir, the Merck/ Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ antiviral in the spotlight as a treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Should much be read into these plans or is it merely an “administrative closure” that is being sought?

Merck/Ridgeback’s ribonucleoside analog shows nearly 50% reduction of risk for hospitalization or death in Phase III study. Firms will seek EUA in US; a contract is in place for 1.7 million courses of therapy.