DEPUTY Speaker Bernadette Herrera on Monday urged the authorities to allow local drug manufacturers to produce antiviral drug Molnupiravir to bring down its cost and make it more accessible to Filipinos.

Developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP and Merck & Co., Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral drug to demonstrate a significant benefit in reducing hospitalization or death in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and could be an important weapon on the battle against the pandemic.

According to reports, a five-day course treatment of Molnupiravir in the United States costs $700, or roughly P35,000.

Herrera said allowing local pharmaceutical companies to manufacture Molnupiravir would make the so-called “wonder drug” more accessible and affordable in the country.

“In times of national health emergencies such as the one the country is currently experiencing with a presence of a pandemic, it is crucial that concerned government agencies provide the citizens with all the resources they need, including access to effective and affordable medicines,” Herrera said.

“Filipinos should not be left in the dark in terms of availability of potentially life-saving drugs against COVID-19 that has been wreaking havoc on our lives and the economy for almost two years now,” she added.

According to Herrera, local pharmaceutical firms are capable of producing Molnupiravir and all other potential treatments for COVID-19.

“Concerned government agencies should find a way for our local drug manufacturers to produce these life-saving drugs as soon as possible, especially now that the country is facing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases possibly due to the Omicron variant,” Herrera said.

She particularly urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include Molnupiravir in the list of drug products under emergency use (DEU) and allow local drug manufacturers access to green lane to produce the anti-COVID-19 pill.

Herrera, a representative of Bagong Henerasyon (BH), said the inclusion of Molnupiravir in the DEU list “as soon as possible” would allow local manufacturers to make the medicines available through local drugstores or pharmacies at an affordable price.

“This will help mild-to-moderate COVID-19 positive patients to easily access Molnupiravir through the prescriptions they can obtain from their doctors,” Herrera pointed out. “Local pharmaceutical firms need sufficient time to manufacture the product so that our response to the Omicron will be timely.

She added: “Local drug companies need ample time so they can do their job in manufacturing Molnupiravir inside the Philippines. The current situation is that there is still lack of access now for this drug.”

At the same time, Herrera called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to look into reported exorbitant price increases on COVID-19 testing kits.

“We have received reports that COVID-19 testing products are selling for double or triple their retail price,” Herrera said.

She added: “This is unacceptable. The DTI must do something to stop people from taking advantage of others during a public health crisis.”

Filipinos are struggling to find COVID-19 test kits, which are getting pricier amid scarce supplies and soaring demand.

The rush to get test kits comes as people endure hours-long lines at testing facilities and as the highly contagious Omicron variant believed to be spreading across the country.