Canada could become a global hub for manufacturing a potentially breakthrough treatment for COVID-19 with the signing of a new agreement to produce molnupiravir from Merck Canada in Whitby, Ontario.
The pharmaceutical company has invested $ 19 million to ramp up production of its oral anti-viral COVID-19 drug at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s facilities in Whitby.
The Ontario facilities will be mandated to supply the product nationally, as well as to the UK, EU, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
The drug – one of the first treatments for COVID-19 patients who are not hospitalized – is currently awaiting approval by Health Canada.
The chosen facility has already produced 10 million doses of the drug while the company awaits the green light from Federal Public Health.
Already 500,000 tablets purchased
Last week, Federal Supply Minister Filomena Tassi announced that Canada had signed an agreement to purchase 500,000 molnupiravir tablets from Merck, with the possibility of purchasing another 500,000 if Health Canada gives the green light.
“The inventory is there, it’s ready to ship once we get approval, but we will continue to manufacture it for future supplies,” said Marwan Akar, president of Merck Canada, at a conference. press Monday.
This medicine works by blocking the enzyme that is essential for the virus to replicate in cells. Merck’s clinical trial showed a 50% reduction in the risk of hospitalization or death compared to placebo patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.
Some experts have claimed that the development of this drug is a potential turning point in the pandemic. Currently, antiviral drugs must be administered intravenously by a healthcare professional in a hospital.
Oral medications could be prescribed and taken at home, allowing patients to be treated before they get so sick that they need hospital care, which would ease the strain on hospitals.
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Strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry
The announcement is also a step forward in Canada’s efforts to boost domestic biofabrication to respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics.
“For me, this is a very big step in the way we intend to rebuild our biofabrication sector in Canada”, declared the Minister of Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne, during the press conference .
Canada’s ability to manufacture pharmaceuticals has been in decline since the 1980s, resulting in the country being unable to create its own supply of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Canada’s dependence on foreign supply has resulted in stoppages in vaccine deployment due to delays in shipping overseas.
Since then, Canada has released a Life Sciences Biofabrication Strategy in an attempt to rebuild its long lost capabilities.
“We did not choose the timing of this pandemic. We won’t choose when the next one happens. But we can choose and we choose as Canadians to be prepared for whatever may happen next, ”said Minister Champagne.
Merck Canada has invested $ 19 million to increase production of molnupiravir at Thermo Fisher Scientific facilities, the Minister of Innovation said, indicating that companies are ready to invest in the production of drugs in Canada.
Merck Canada chose the Canadian plant because of its potential, capacity and speed, said Marwan Akar, “and to be honest with you, our confidence that the Whitby plant will deliver as we do. need, because we are facing a pandemic ”.
So far, 50 employees are dedicated to the production of molnupiravir at Thermo Fisher Scientific facilities, although authorities expect more jobs to be created as countries around the world approve the use. of the drug.
“Obviously, the number of jobs will be directly linked to the demand for the drug around the world,” said Minister Champagne. “But the fact that we have a global mandate is the fundamental starting point so that we can have more people involved in production and research” regarding this particular drug.
Ottawa has also made sure to procure one million of its COVID-19 tablets from Pfizer, also awaiting approval by Health Canada.