Joe Raedle
COVID-19 treatments manufactured by Pfizer (New York Stock Exchange:PFE) and Merck (New York Stock Exchange: MRK) will supposedly move to the commercial market on November 1st.
Until now, the US government was distributing Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Lagevrio along with COVID-19 vaccines. After November 1, the The drugs will be available through traditional distribution channels. Reuters reported.
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official told Reuters that cost increases will not be felt immediately since most people will still be able to get the drugs from the government stockpile at little or no cost. Providers will still be able to order government-supplied Paxlovid until December 15 and Lagevrio until November 10.
Pfizer reportedly plans to price Paxlovid at $1,390 per treatment, much higher than the $529 paid by the US government.
