NEWS RELEASE

MSD in Thailand Announces Supply Agreement
with Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health for Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral COVID-19 Antiviral Medicine, Upon Authorization or Approval

Molnupiravir is Currently Being Evaluated for the Treatment of Non-hospitalised Patients with Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and At Least One Risk Factor Associated with Poor Disease Outcomes

Bangkok, November 25, 2021 – MSD in Thailand (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE: MRK)) today announced that it has entered into a supply & purchase agreement with Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (The Ministry) for the supply of molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801), an investigational oral antiviral medicine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults in the non-hospitalised setting.

Dr. Mary Srethapakdi, Managing Director of MSD Thailand, said “MSD has a long legacy of research and development in infectious diseases. We have been fully committed to developing an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic since it was first recognized. There is an urgent need to help patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 limiting disease progression to severe illness, especially in patients with at least one risk factor associated with poor disease outcomes. We are proud to partner with the Thai Government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This supply & purchase agreement is another example of Thailand’s forward-looking strategy of pandemic management and the government’s strong commitment to investing in innovative medicines and vaccines to combat the pandemic.”

Dr. Srethapakdi also added: “Our partnership with the Thai government goes beyond today’s supply & purchase agreement. With inputs from the Department of Medical Services and several key experts in Thailand, the country is also one of markets that will be conducting the phase 3 MOVe-AHEAD clinical trial with five trial sites in Thailand. The MOVe-AHEAD study is the second phase 3 study of molnupiravir and a clinical program to evaluate molnupiravir for post-exposure prophylaxis.”

On November 4, 2021, the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted authorization in the United Kingdom for molnupiravir, the first oral antiviral medicine authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test and who have at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. MSD is developing molnupiravir in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

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About the Molnupiravir Clinical Development Program

The MOVe-OUT trial (MK-4482-002) (NCT04575597) is a global Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-site study of non-hospitalized adult patients with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Patients enrolled in the study were unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, had at least one risk factor associated with poor disease outcomes (e.g., older patients, those with obesity and diabetes), and symptom onset within five days prior to randomization. The primary efficacy objective of MOVe-OUT is to evaluate the efficacy of molnupiravir compared to placebo as assessed by the percentage of participants who are hospitalized and/or die from the time of randomization through Day 29.

MOVe-AHEAD (MK-4482-013) (NCT04939428) is a Phase 3 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orally administered molnupiravir compared to placebo in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within households. The trial will enroll approximately 1,332 participants who will be randomized to receive either molnupiravir (800 mg) or placebo orally every 12 hours for five days. The study will enroll participants who are at least 18 years of age and currently residing in the same household with someone who received a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, has at least one sign or symptom of COVID-19 and has not had those signs and symptoms for more than five days. Participants are not eligible for the trial if they have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than seven days prior to enrollment, have previously had COVID-19 or are showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

For more information on molnupiravir clinical trials, including MOVe-OUT and MOVe-AHEAD, please visit https://msdcovidresearch.com/.

About Molnupiravir

Molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801) is an investigational, orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. If authorized or approved, the recommended dose for molnupiravir based on the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT clinical trial would be 800 mg twice daily for five days.

Molnupiravir was invented at Drug Innovations at Emory (DRIVE), LLC, a not-for-profit biotechnology company wholly owned by Emory University; Emory/DRIVE received some research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Molnupiravir is being developed by MSD in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Ridgeback received an upfront payment from MSD and also is eligible to receive contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain developmental and regulatory approval milestones. Any profits from the collaboration will be split between the partners equally. Since licensed by Ridgeback, all funds used for the development of molnupiravir have been provided by MSD and by Wayne and Wendy Holman of Ridgeback.

About MSD’s Global Efforts to Accelerate Access to Molnupiravir Following Regulatory Authorizations or Approvals

MSD is committed to providing timely access to molnupiravir globally through our comprehensive supply and access approach, which includes investing at risk to produce millions of courses of therapy; tiered pricing based on the ability of governments to finance health care; entering into supply agreements with governments; and granting voluntary licenses to generic manufacturers and to the Medicines Patent Pool to make generic molnupiravir available in low- and middle-income countries following local regulatory authorizations or approvals.

Supply: In anticipation of the results from MOVe-OUT and the potential for regulatory authorization or approval, MSD has been producing molnupiravir at risk and expects to produce 10 million courses of treatment by the end of 2021, with at least 20 million courses to be produced in 2022.

Supply agreements: Earlier this year, MSD entered into a procurement agreement with the U.S. Government under which the company will supply approximately 3.1 million courses of molnupiravir to the U.S. Government, upon Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or approval from the U.S. FDA. Additionally, MSD has entered into supply and advance purchase agreements for molnupiravir with governments worldwide and is currently in discussions with additional governments. MSD plans to implement a tiered pricing approach based on World Bank country income criteria to reflect countries’ relative ability to finance their health response to the pandemic.

Voluntary licenses: As part of its commitment to widespread global access, MSD previously announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool to increase broad access for molnupiravir in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, MSD previously announced that the company has entered into non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements for molnupiravir with established Indian generic manufacturers to accelerate availability of molnupiravir in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries following approvals or emergency authorization by local regulatory agencies.

MSD continues to discuss additional measures and collaborations to accelerate broad, global access to molnupiravir.

About MSD

For over 130 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

For more information, visit www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About MSD in Thailand

In Thailand, MSD’s medicines and vaccines have contributed to improving healthcare for over 70 years and were first supplied through the collaboration with a long-established local partner in 1949.

In 2004, MSD established a wholly owned subsidiary in Thailand. With this establishment in place, MSD has been well positioned to bring more innovative medical solutions to Thailand, conducting clinical research and supporting physicians’ and patients’ needs. With focuses on Oncology, Vaccines, General Medicines and Hospital Specialty, MSD is helping to improve and save lives of Thai People.

For more information, visit www.msd-thailand.com and  www.facebook.com/MSDinTH

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Dr. Mary Srethapakdi, MD of MSD (Thailand) Ltd. (Left) & Mr. Teeravuth Suthanaseriporn, CEO of Cigna Insurance Plc. (Right)

MSD (Thailand) Ltd., in collaboration with Cigna Insurance Plc., launched the “Together4More Possibility” campaign, bringing to the public the latest information on various forms of cancer, as well as innovative cancer treatment options, including immunotherapy, to help save and improve the lives of the Thai people, for betterment of health outcomes and a more hopeful tomorrow.

Dr. Mary Srethapakdi, Managing Director, MSD (Thailand) Ltd.

Dr. Mary Srethapakdi, Managing Director of MSD (Thailand) Ltd., said “We are very pleased to collaborate with Cigna in bringing scientific and medical knowledge that would be of public interest and benefit. We aim to bring the latest information on various forms of cancer and treatment options, including immunotherapy, to healthcare professionals and the public to improve treatment choices and outcomes for Thai cancer patients and for a more hopeful tomorrow for Thai people.”

Mr. Teeravuth Suthanaseriporn, Chief Executive Officer of Cigna Insurance Plc.

Mr. Teeravuth Suthanaseriporn, Chief Executive Officer of Cigna Insurance Plc, said “Cigna has collaborated with MSD as we share the same goals of introducing innovative healthcare treatments to help Thai people.  We also believe it’s important to improve the public’s knowledge of diseases and how they can be treated, in order to give them more options that can both improve their lives and reduce their health risks. We are taking an important step by partnering with MSD, as it brings more hope to Thai people in effectively and efficiently treating more diseases. Through this partnership we will continue to bring new information about cancer and innovative treatment options.”

Through this collaboration, Cigna and MSD aspire to be leaders in providing access to the latest information on cancer and treatments, including immunotherapy, under the campaign “Together4More Possibility”, bringing a more hopeful tomorrow for Thai people.

#CignaxMSD #Together4MorePossibility #ร่วมก่อต่อโอกาสให้ชีวิต #Immunotherapy
#MoreHopefulTomorrow #InnovativeCancerTreatment #ความหวังที่มากกว่าวันพรุ่งนี้

“HOPE THEORY” includes total 14 Episodes: 11 voice episodes and 3 video episodes with guest speakers such as Khun Setha Sirachaya, Thai famouse actor and lung cancer patient (EP.3), Asst. Prof. Dr. Aumkhae Sookprasert, MD., Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (EP.5) and Khun Bella Sirintip, Ex-Cancer patient and currently President of Thai Cancer Society (EP.10) and Dr. Jomtana Siripaibun, Director of the Medical Oncology Center, Chulabhorn Hospital (EP.13).

Releasing every Thursday in Mission to the moon Online channels: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Podbean, and Apple Podcasts. Starting from August 19 till November 18, 2021 in Thai language.

Website: https://missiontothemoon.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missiontothemoonofficial/
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3xTTPRV
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sqKArq
Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/3sysAeL
Podbean: https://bit.ly/3yYGp8D
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/37RKOOT

Get updated with Hope Theory through MSD Thailand Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MSDinTH

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​​​​​​​#InventingForLife #MSDมุ่งมั่นพัฒนาคุณภาพชีวิต