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BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government is in talks with U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co to purchase 200,000 courses of the company’s experimental antiviral pill for COVID-19 treatment, a Thai official said on Monday.

Following their slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Western countries, Asian countries have been scrambling to secure supplies for this treatment as soon as possible.

South Korea and Taiwan said they’re in negotiations to buy Merck’s treatment. The Philippines said the drug is being tested locally.

The three companies declined to discuss details of purchase negotiations.

Somsak Aksilp is the director-general of Department of Medical Services (DMS). He told Reuters that Thailand currently works on a purchase agreement for the antiviral drug molnupiravir.

The first oral antiviral medication against COVID-19 would be the molnupiravir tablets. These pills are designed to make errors in the virus’ genetic code. Interim clinical trials indicated https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mercks-covid-19-pill-cuts-risk-death-hospitalization-by-50-study-2021-10-01 it could reduce by around 50% the chance of hospitalisation or death for patients at risk of severe disease from COVID-19.

Somsak explained that “we are working now on a Merck purchasing agreement. It is expected to be complete by the week.”

According to He, the tablets could be available as early as December. However, the deal will need to be approved both by the Thai regulatory body and the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Merck representatives in Thailand were not reachable immediately.

According to the U.S., the company expects 10 million units of this treatment to be produced by 2021. U.S. contract has been awarded to the company for 1.7 Million courses of molnupiravir. The cost per course is $700

Company officials stated that they plan to implement a tiered pricing system based upon country income.

Maria Rosario Vergeire (Health Undersecretary) of the Philippines stated Monday in a regular media conference, that “We can have more access, because we have this clinical trials counterpart.”