Vietnam says Pfizer and MSD to grant its firms licenses to produce Covid-19 pills

South Korean tourists arrive at a hotel in Phu Quoc island, among the first wave of visitors in nearly two years as the country seeks to resurrect its pandemic-ravaged tourism economy, in Vietnam, November 20, 2021. - Reuters

HANOI, Nov 26 (Reuters): Drugmakers Pfizer Inc and MSD, known as Merck & Co Inc in North America, have agreed to give licenses to firms in Vietnam to produce Covid-19 treatment pills, Vietnam's ministry of health said on Friday.

The companies have sent letters of approval to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, the ministry said in a statement, for the production of Molnupiravir and Paxlovid pills.