Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LON:BXP) (Dhaka:BXPH.DH), a pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh, will start selling a generic version of Merck & Co's (NYSE:MRK) antiviral pill for COVID-19 following local regulatory approval, Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday.

The company stated that it will soon begin selling generic molnupiravir, a cheaper version of Merck's branded pill, in Bangladesh, as it had received emergency use authorisation for the treatment from the country's Directorate General of Drug Administration.

This marks the launch of the world's first generic version of Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics' tablet, molnupiravir.

Molnupiravir had received its first regulatory approval globally, in the UK last week. It is still under review in the United States and Europe.

Beximco added that exports would depend on regulatory approvals globally.