Egypt Approves Merck COVID Pill, Says to Be Produced Locally

People are seen, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt January 5, 2021. (Reuters)
People are seen, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt January 5, 2021. (Reuters)
TT
20

Egypt Approves Merck COVID Pill, Says to Be Produced Locally

People are seen, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt January 5, 2021. (Reuters)
People are seen, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt January 5, 2021. (Reuters)

Egypt approved Merck & Co’s COVID-19 pill Molnupiravir for emergency use, the country’s drug authority said on Monday, adding that the pill would be locally produced.

The drug will initially be manufactured by five local companies, to be joined later by several other firms, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) said in a statement.

Molnupiravir is the first antiviral pill licensed for treating COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of developing severe disease and reducing the risk of getting hospitalized by the half.

It will only be allowed inside hospitals to make sure it is taken under full medical supervision and in accordance with the standards set by the relevant scientific committees to ensure continuous therapeutic follow-up, the EDA said in its statement.

Egypt has become the first country in the Middle East to issue an emergency use license for a medicine.

Separately, five-year old children are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine as authorities expand the vaccination campaign to reach all age groups.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar noted an increase in the COVID-19 cases in Egypt, urging people to receive the vaccine and to abide by the preventative precautions.

Egypt reported 1,603 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, upping the total since the beginning of the outbreak to 410,098.



Syrian Government Denies its Forces Preparing to Redeploy to Sweida

FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
TT
20

Syrian Government Denies its Forces Preparing to Redeploy to Sweida

FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Syrian security forces walk on a road in Sweida countryside, as vehicles transporting other Syrian security forces make their way out of the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syria's interior ministry spokesperson said on Friday that government forces were not preparing to deploy to Sweida Province, the state news agency reported.

Noureddin al-Baba denied a Reuters report citing an interior ministry media officer as saying security forces were preparing to redeploy to Druze-majority Sweida city to quell fighting involving Bedouin tribes and the Druze.

A fragile truce was holding in Syria's south on Friday after a ceasefire announced on Wednesday briefly ended days of fighting that began when Bedouin and Druze fighters clashed in Sweida province in southern Syria, prompting the Syrian government to send in troops.

Syrian troops withdrew from Sweida after the truce was announced but clashes resumed late on Thursday.

Israel's military carried out new attacks in Sweida province overnight.

Israel has said it would not allow Syria's government to deploy troops to the south.