The Gates Foundation puts $120 million towards rolling out Merck's COVID-19 pill in poorer countries
- The Gates Foundation is putting $120 million towards helping poorer nations get Merck's COVID-19 pill.
- Merck applied for FDA authorization for its COVID-19 antiviral drug but it hasn't been approved yet.
- The money will go towards developing and making generic versions of the pill if it's approved.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said on Tuesday that it would commit up to $120 million to help low-income countries get a COVID-19 drug developed by Merck.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't yet authorized Merck's COVID-19 pill but an advisory panel are scheduled meet to discuss the request on November 30.
The money from the Gates Foundation will go towards supporting the development and manufacturing of generic versions of the pill if it wins regulatory approval, according to the foundation's statement.
"Low-income countries have had to wait for everything from personal protective equipment to vaccines. That is unacceptable," co-chair Melinda French Gates said in the statement.
"Today's commitment will ensure that more people in more countries get access to the promising drug molnupiravir, but it's not the end of the story - we need other donors, including foundations and governments, to act," she said.
The move comes as low- and middle-income countries struggle to secure vaccines and treatments needed to help recover from COVID-19, especially in Africa, where only around 5% of the population is immunized.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that an effort led by the World Health Organization to win fair access for poorer countries aims to get antiviral drugs for as little as $10 per course for people with mild symptoms.
Merck's COVID-19 pill is likely to be one of them.
Early trial results suggested the pill reduces hospitalization by 50%, the company said. If approved, it will be the first oral antiviral in use for COVID-19.
The Gates Foundation, which launched in 2000, has poured around $1.9 billion into the fight against the pandemic since last year.
More than 241.58 million people have been reported infected with the coronavirus worldwide, and more than 5.1 million have died, a Reuters tally shows.
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