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No Molnupiravir import ‘anytime soon’

24 Jan 2022

 
  • State Pharmaceuticals Ministry says pill not ‘drug of choice’
  • Four local cos. to provide evaluation info to NMRA; claims drug efficacy the world over is key in decision making 
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that the Covid-19 oral antiviral pill “Molnupiravir” has not yet been identified as a drug of choice, the Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry has stated that the same will not be imported any time soon. When contacted by The Morning yesterday (24), Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayake said that it has not yet been decided to import Molnupiravir. However, he said that four local drug importing companies have been given permission to study it and provide the relevant dossiers to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). “We have not yet made a decision on importing Molnupiravir, but four companies were selected to study the drug. We have asked them to bring in all the relevant dossiers and to submit them to the NMRA.” He further said that if the NMRA is satisfied with the outcome of the evaluations into the drug, it will be able to decide on whether or not to import it in the future. “In addition to Molnupiravir, many other countries are developing drugs for Covid-19. They all are doing it for business purposes, so they want to sell it anyway. Molnupiravir is a drug that is still being tested. It has not been shown to completely cure Covid-19. It has also not been identified as a ‘drug of choice’ yet. That is why we started the process of evaluating it,” explained Dr. Rathnayake. Noting that the NMRA was studying the effects of using the drug in other parts of the world, he said that the drug would only be imported if it seems to be successful in other countries where it is currently being used.  “Companies have brought in the dossiers and are conducting evaluations with the NMRA. We are studying how other countries are getting results from the use of this drug. It will only be imported if it is proven that it can be used to control Covid-19 very well. Otherwise, there is no need to import it suddenly when the country is in a US dollar crisis,” he said. Developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and the Merck Sharp and Dohme Corporation, Molnupiravir works by interfering with the virus’s replication. This prevents it from multiplying, keeping virus levels low in the body and therefore, reducing the severity of the disease. Based on clinical trial data, it is most effective when taken during the early stages of the infection and therefore, has been recommended for use as soon as possible, following a positive Covid-19 test and within five days of the onset of symptoms.  

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