WND: The federal government already has a $1.2 billion contract with Merck to buy molnupiravir at $700 per 10-pill course, reported economic policy analyst Phil Kerpen, the president of the non-profit American Commitment. Displaying a copy of the contract on Twitter, he added that the government holds options for up to $3.7 billion.
Dr. Pierre Kory, who has testified of ivermectin’s effectiveness against COVID-19 in Senate testimony, said Friday that while Merck says molnupiravir reduces hospitalization and death by 47%, studies show ivermectin’s rate is 88%.
On Friday, Merk said molnupiravir showed “compelling results” in clinical trials, cutting the risk of hospitalization or death in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 by about 50% in a late-stage trial.
If approved by the FDA, it would become the first oral antiviral for COVID-19. Read More
Assessment: Republican Senator Louie Gohmert noted Merck itself has discouraged using ivermectin to treat COVID-19. The Texas lawmaker spotlighted the fact that the cheap and effective ivermectin would directly compete with the new drug it is developing, called molnupiravir. Unlike ivermectin, molnupirvar would be patented, the congressman pointed out, creating the potential “to rake in billions of dollars.”
