Sterling Pharma and MIB partner to develop low-cost route to new oral COVID drug

The new route uses a novel enzyme, cytidine aminotransferase, which would reduce the manufacturing cost of the drug

From its facility in Dudley, Northumberland, the CDMO will provide chemical scale-up to multi-kilogrammes and process development services for Manchester University's project for which it has received grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Although the drug was was originally developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck Sharp and Dohm, the new route has been developed by researchers at MIB, and includes the use of a novel enzyme, cytidine aminotransferase, which would reduce the manufacturing cost of the drug.

The process could allow generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce large-scale quantities of molnupiravir to supply of lower-income countries, subject to authorisation from further regulatory agencies, including the World Health Organization and national governments.

Molnupiravir, which has recently (4 November 2021) been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, is the first oral antiviral treatment for coronavirus that could be self-administered at home.