Merck's Fumble Gives Pfizer a Win
Bloomberg Businessweek|February 07, 2022
It shelved a 10-year-old drug that’s provided a key component in a rival’s $17 billion Covid pill
John Lauerman, with Susan Decker and Cynthia Koons
Merck's Fumble Gives Pfizer a Win

Almost as quickly as Covid-19 erupted in early 2020, so too did the rush to find drugs, either old or new, to treat the contagion spreading around the world. Although researchers soon identified some that quelled late-stage symptoms or weakly restrained the virus, Paxlovid, a pill from Pfizer Inc. that prevents severe disease, appears poised to take a solid lead in the lucrative coronavirus treatment market.

Yet an important component of Pfizer’s antiviral has links to a drug from rival Merck & Co.: boceprevir, developed decades ago to fight hepatitis C. That fragment accounts for at least 20% of Paxlovid’s coronavirus-fighting power—and perhaps much more—researchers estimate, and a key patent on the molecule it comes from resides with Merck.

Several labs have noted the potential of boceprevir, a protease inhibitor that Merck sold earlier under the brand name Victrelis. But as developers at universities began looking for ways to use it and similar compounds to make Covid drugs over the past two years, Merck sat on the sidelines.

Bypassing the drug while a rival seems set to profit handsomely from one of its key parts adds to Merck’s saga of Covid futility. Along with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Merck is among the big drugmakers that have failed to devise a usable coronavirus vaccine in the world’s biggest infectious disease crisis in a century and partake in a market for Covid shots that health analytics firm Airfinity Ltd. estimates will be worth $85 billion this year.

This story is from the February 07, 2022 edition of Bloomberg Businessweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 07, 2022 edition of Bloomberg Businessweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEKView All
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App

The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts

time-read
4 mins  |
March 13, 2023
Running in Circles
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Running in Circles

A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Bloomberg Businessweek US

What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort

Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.

time-read
10 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
Bloomberg Businessweek US

How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto

The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
The Last-Mover Problem
Bloomberg Businessweek US

The Last-Mover Problem

A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Tick Tock, TikTok
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Tick Tock, TikTok

The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria

A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Pumping Heat in Hamburg

The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge

Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
New Money, New Problems
Bloomberg Businessweek US

New Money, New Problems

In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023