Merck to Deliver 100,000 Doses of COVID-19 Therapeutic

Merck announced on December 23, 2020; it has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Government to support the development, manufacture, and initial distribution of an investigational biological therapeutic (CD24Fc, to be named MK-7110) upon approval or Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA.

Additionally, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority announced it will provide approximately $356 million to Merck to deliver up to 100,000 doses of MK-7110 by June 30, 2021.

Merck acquired MK-7110 through the acquisition of New Jersey-based OncoImmune.

Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, President Merck Research Laboratories, stated in a press release, “Recent clinical investigations support the view that CD24Fc may provide benefit beyond standard of care therapy for COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen support, and hence will represent an important addition to the Merck pipeline of investigational medicines and vaccines designed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.”