The U.K. government will buy more COVID-19 antiviral pills from Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) and Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) as it seeks to combat the surge in omicron infections.
- Britain has secured an additional 1.75 million courses of Merck’s drug, molnupiravir, and another 2.5 million courses of Pfizer’s paxlovid.
- Previously the U.K. had sourced 480,000 courses of molnupiravir and 250,000 courses of paxlovid.
- In November, Britain’s health regulator became the first in the world to approve molnupiravir, describing the treatment as safe and effective following a quick review.
- The drug is authorized in people with mild to moderate Covid and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness.
- Paxlovid has yet to be authorized by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
- Price Action: MRK shares are up 0.34% at $75.80, PFE stock is down 0.29% at $58.78 during the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.
