Merck and partner privately held Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said Tuesday they have won a supply agreement from the United Nations Children’s Fund, or Unicef, to provide it with up to 3 million doses of their COVID-19 antiviral molnupiravir in the first half of 2022. The doses will be distributed in more than 100 low and middle-income countries following regulatory authorizations. The treatment has already been authorized in more than 10 countries, including the U.S., UK, Japan and Taiwan. Merck shares were not yet active premarket, but have gained 2.4% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 24%.
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