Merck in early discussions to sell new COVID-19 pill to Canada

The U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. says it is in early discussions with the federal government to sell it stocks of the company's newCOVID-19 drug.

Merck announced on Oct. 1 that it had developed apill that can cut the risk of hospitalizationor deathby half in people with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

The company says its new pill, calledmolnupiravir, can disrupt the genetic material of the virus before it begins duplicating.It is not believed to be effective in severe cases.

"We are in active discussions with the government of Canada to basically look at securing an agreement to secure supply for molnupiravir for Canada," said Jennifer Chan, Merck Canada's vice-president of policy and government affairs.

WATCH|Merck Canada vice-president Jennifer Chan speaks to CBC's Power & Politics about the company's new COVID-19 drug

While the company says the pill can be an effective tool to help COVID-19 patients, no data about the drughavebeen released publicly or peer-reviewed by other scientists.

The company has submitted its preliminary data to Health Canada, among other national health agencies, but it has not been approved for use.

The U.S., which is also in the process of reviewing the drug, has reached a deal to buy 1.7 million courses of molnupiravirat a cost of approximately $866 each.

Chan said Merck will sell the drug internationally based on a "global tiered pricing strategy," which will adjust pricesfor the drug based on anation's ability to pay.