# Merck sees up to $7 billion in sales of COVID-19 drug through end of 2022 Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-10-28 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Merck's Experimental COVID-19 Pill Forecasted to Bring Meta Description: Learn about Merck's upcoming antiviral drug, molnupiravir, and its potential to revolutionize COVID-19 treatment. Get the latest updates here. URL: https://financedigest.com/merck-sees-up-to-7-billion-in-sales-of-covid-19-drug-through-end-of-2022html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-10-28t122800z4lynxmpeh9r0myrtroptp4health-coronavirus-merck-co-1736837506765-compressed.jpg) By Michael Erman and Manas Mishra (Reuters) -Merck & Co Inc on Thursday said its experimental COVID-19 drug could bring in between $5 billion and $7 billion in sales through the end of next year, assuming it gains U.S. authorization in December. Merck’s [shares rose more than 4% to $84.88 in early trading](https://www.financedigest.com/social-trading-is-the-new-way-that-gen-z-are-getting-their-share-of-the-pie.html "Social Trading is The New Way That Gen Z Are Getting Their Share of The Pie"). The antiviral drug, molnupiravir, has been closely watched [since Merck earlier this month](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-factories-suffer-worst-month-since-may-2020-as-economy-stumbles-pmi.html "UK factories suffer worst month since May 2020 as economy stumbles – PMI") reported data https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mercks-covid-19-pill-cuts-risk-death-hospitalization-by-50-study-2021-10-01 that showed it could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of developing severe COVID-19 when given early in the illness. U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers will [meet in November to vote](https://www.financedigest.com/queen-elizabeth-meets-sturgeon-after-new-push-for-independence-vote.html "Queen Elizabeth meets Sturgeon after new push for independence vote") on whether the drug should be authorized. If cleared by the FDA, the medicine developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics will become the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Merck Chief Executive Robert Davis said in an interview the $5 billion to $7 billion forecast for the pill is based on [signed contracts and regions where the company has high confidence that they will reach a deal](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-nexi-signs-digital-payments-deal-with-tims-olivetti.html "Italy’s Nexi signs digital payments deal with TIM’s Olivetti"), and that the estimate could move higher. “We will have more courses available than what we have sales for right now,” Davis said. He noted that [demand could spike if the drug](https://www.financedigest.com/continuous-upgradations-to-bolster-the-demand-for-drugs.html "Continuous Upgradations to bolster the demand for Drugs") is found to also be effective in preventing COVID-19 after exposure to the virus. “That upside is not in these numbers,” he said. While vaccines [remain the main weapons against COVID-19](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-britain-scraps-all-remaining-covid-19-restrictions.html "Factbox-Britain scraps all remaining COVID-19 restrictions"), Merck’s experimental pill could be a game-changer as other treatments for the disease are given as infusions or injections, primarily in a hospital setting. Molnupiravir is taken twice a day for five days. [Merck said it expects between $500 million](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-merck-to-invest-300-million-euros-in-us-gas-plant.html "Germany’s Merck to invest 300 million euros in US gas plant") and $1 billion in sales of the drug this year. [Profits will be shared](https://www.financedigest.com/ford-posts-lower-profit-issues-downbeat-outlook-shares-drop.html "Ford posts lower profit, issues downbeat outlook; shares drop") equally with Ridgeback. The U.S. drugmaker in June [agreed to provide 1.7 million](https://www.financedigest.com/iag-agrees-to-buy-80-stake-in-air-europa-for-400-million-euros.html "IAG agrees to buy 80% stake in Air Europa for 400 million euros") doses of molnupiravir to the U.S. [government for around](https://www.financedigest.com/the-network-group-events-calls-on-the-government-to-invest-in-public-awareness-campaign-around-cyber-security.html "The Network Group Events calls on the Government to invest in public awareness campaign around cyber security") $1.2 billion, once it is cleared by regulators. Other countries have rushed to [sign deals](https://www.financedigest.com/siemens-energy-signs-7-billion-eur-offshore-power-deal-with-tennet.html "Siemens Energy signs 7-billion-eur offshore power deal with TenneT") for the drug since its data was announced. Merck has also signed pacts https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-signs-pact-broaden-generic-manufacturing-covid-19-pill-2021-10-27/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20Oct%2027%20(Reuters),and%20the%20organization%20announced%20on with [generic drugmakers to produce the drug](https://www.financedigest.com/generic-oncology-drugs-market-2021-global-leading-companies-analysis-revenue-trends-and-forecasts-2027.html "Generic Oncology Drugs Market 2021 Global Leading Companies Analysis, Revenue, Trends and Forecasts 2027") for low- and middle-income countries. It expects to produce 10 million [courses of the drug this year](https://www.financedigest.com/nearly-60-of-people-are-worried-about-their-data-being-used-by-mobile-apps-but-continue-to-download-as-many-as-100-apps-over-the-course-of-a-year.html "Nearly 60% of people are worried about their data being used by mobile apps, but continue to download as many as 100 apps over the course of a year"), and sees that number more than doubling in 2022. Its production targets do not include the licensing deals for generic versions. Also on Thursday, Merck raised its full-year adjusted [profit forecast following strong third-quarter demand for blockbuster](https://www.financedigest.com/big-oil-doubles-profits-in-blockbuster-2022.html "Big Oil doubles profits in blockbuster 2022") cancer drug Keytruda, and a 68% spike in sales of Gardasil, its vaccine to prevent cancers caused by the human papillomavirus. Sales of Keytruda, which is on track to [become the world’s](https://www.financedigest.com/snowboarding-british-teenager-brookes-becomes-the-youngest-world-champion.html "Snowboarding-British teenager Brookes becomes the youngest world champion") biggest-selling medicine by 2023, rose 22% to $4.53 billion in the quarter, topping analysts’ lofty estimates of $4.31 billion. Merck now [expects full-year adjusted profit](https://www.financedigest.com/portuguese-airline-tap-swings-to-profit-earlier-than-expected.html "Portuguese airline TAP swings to profit earlier than expected") of $5.65 to $5.70 per share, up from its prior view of $5.47 to $5.57. The forecasts did not include any potential contribution from molnupiravir. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New Jersey; Editing by Mark Porter and Bill Berkrot) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---