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Merck CEO Robert Davis On Molnupiravir

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MEG TIRRELL: Now joining us is the Merck CEO Rob Davis. Rob, thanks for being with us around this virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. I desire to start by asking you about Molnupiravir, your, your COVID-19 antiviral drug given where we are with the Omicron version. What type of demand are you seeing for the drug and any early use that youre seeing?
You understand with Molnupiravir as you say given what were seeing with Omicron version. We are seeing the need there. And, and you understand, we feel extremely great that weve included another weapon in the arsenal versus COVID-19.
TIRRELL: How do you take a look at it, we have not gotten to toxins, you know, the, the final information came out however we saw that modification in the interim look where you had 50% reduction in the danger of hospitalization and death, down to 30% with the interim appearance, and then the FDA clearance actually was for this drug to be utilized when folks cant access other drugs or theyre not suitable for them due to the fact that of, you know, numerous factors with the other medications. How do you take a look at that change in the information and how we should be thinking of how well this drug works and how important a tool it is?
DAVIS: Yeah, well, you understand, its important to I think concentrate on what the drug does and, you know, clearly, theres a lot of things that take place when youre taking a look at an interim read versus a last read. But I think an essential aspect that we always need to come back to if you take a look at decrease in death, which is an extremely difficult endpoint, so reduction in danger of death, Molnupiravir delivers about a 90% reduction so it is significant and if youre somebody in a high-risk category who cant use the other drugs that are offered to you, this antiviral treatment is a fantastic choice and I believe as you take a look at what this drug is, there are a lot of people who will gain from this not only in the United States, but worldwide. And and as I see this, this is about what everybody can bring together. This isnt about one versus the other. I feel good about it. And you know, as we consider what is the potential, we had actually suggested last year that we expected to see about 5 to $7 billion in earnings in 2022 and I can inform you based on the orders we have in hand, we are, we are going to deliver because expectation. So the need continues to be meaningful on a worldwide basis. And Im just feel fortunate that were able to ideally do a little part to help in this battle.
TIRRELL: Is there any expectation that you might integrate this drug or look at testing it in addition to other antivirals, either Pfizers PAXLOVID or other antiviral drugs. We understand its really strongly active and perhaps isnt as susceptible to variants however naturally, thats always the worry with single antiviral drugs. Are you taking a look at integrating it all, at all?
If you look at our drug has a high barrier of resistance and, and also in preclinical screening, weve, weve actually been able to look and see that we do not believe theres any problem with the Omicron variant so it does work versus Omicron version and by the nature of the system that this drug operates in, thats what you would anticipate. And in fact, you understand, as we believe about down the road, and, you understand, we hope its not the case, however we also have to be I believe sober to understand there is a possibility were going to see future coronaviruses, future infections and pandemics and the nature of this particle is such that it is, must be reliable regardless of the type of coronavirus it is and in truth even reveals that some activity across wider RNA based breathing infections like RSV, like honestly the common influenza and cold so, you know, that gives us confidence that this drug has a strong platform to work. I wouldnt be shocked over time if you do see people begin to look at combinations of the different drugs.
TIRRELL: Well, in other antiviral work, naturally, you have HIV drugs too and one has had a security setback with Islatravir getting placed on clinical hold. Whats your expectation for how that gets overcome and what the future of that drug might be?
And, you understand, this drug was a drug that have has so many fantastic characteristics. It also is highly resistant, plays well with others, very long lasting drug. And so that work is, is underway and you know, Im hopeful that we will see that continue to, to bear fruit because theres still a big unmet need in HIV, but we have to do the work and so more to come whether or not well be able to bring that drug back.
TIRRELL: Absolutely. Well, Rob Davis, thats all the time we have. We had a whole Merck interview and we didnt speak about Keytruda as soon as so youre gon na have to return since weve got a lot more to speak about but thanks a lot for being with us here today.
DAVIS: Well thank you. Thank you for having us and its, its an advantage. Thanks.
Updated on Jan 10, 2022, 1:33 pm

I believe a crucial aspect that we constantly have to come back to if you look at decrease in death, which is an extremely difficult endpoint, so reduction in danger of death, Molnupiravir delivers about a 90% reduction so it is significant and if youre somebody in a high-risk category who cant use the other drugs that are readily available to you, this antiviral treatment is an excellent choice and I think as you look at what this drug is, there are a lot of people who will benefit from this not only in the United States, but internationally. TIRRELL: Is there any expectation that you might integrate this drug or look at checking it along with other antivirals, either Pfizers PAXLOVID or other antiviral drugs. If you look at our drug has a high barrier of resistance and, and also in preclinical screening, weve, weve really been able to see and look that we do not think theres any problem with the Omicron version so it does work versus Omicron variant and by the nature of the system that this drug runs in, thats what you would expect. And in fact, you know, as we believe about down the road, and, you understand, we hope its not the case, but we also have to be I think sober to realize there is a possibility were going to see future coronaviruses, future infections and pandemics and the nature of this molecule is such that it is, must be effective regardless of the type of coronavirus it is and in fact even reveals that some activity across broader RNA based respiratory infections like RSV, like frankly the typical flu and cold so, you know, that offers us self-confidence that this drug has a strong platform to work. And, you understand, this drug was a drug that have has so numerous great characteristics.

Following is the informal transcript of a CNBC interview with Merck & & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) President & & CEO Robert Davis on CNBCs “TechCheck” (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET) airing today, Monday, January 10th.

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