HCMC – Local pharmaceutical firm Boston Vietnam is set to launch Covid-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir in the local market through pharmacies nationwide, with price starting at some VND300,000 per box, said the company’s representative today, February 18.
Each box of Molnupiravir contains 20 capsules of 400mg or 40 capsules of 200mg. The price of some VND300,000 per box was worked out based upon the input materials and labor costs. This price is lower than the WHO recommended price of US$19.9 per box, or VND440,000, for developing countries, said Luong Dang Khoa, general director of Boston Vietnam.
Boston Vietnam is one of three local pharmaceutical firms that received the emergency-use authorization from the Health Ministry on February 17 to manufacture and market the oral antiviral Molnupiravir. The other two firms are Mekophar Chemical Pharmaceutical JSC and Stellapharm Vietnam.
According to Stellpharm’s representative, the firm plans to lauch its Molnupiravir at VND250,000 per box or even cheaper, if the firm manufactures the drug in large volumes.
Stellapharm decided to offer the drug at no profit and is seeking to set the price as inexpensively as possible within the ASEAN countries, so that more people can purchase the drug, the representative added.
Meanwhile, a Mekophar representative said that Mekophar is waiting for response from the Drug Administration of Vietnam, under the Health Ministry, before pricing the drug to launch in the market.
The three pharmaceutical manufacturers planned to launch the antiviral drug in the local market next week through pharmacies nationwide.
