EU secures potential Covid-19 drugs from Roche, Germany's Merck: Report

The European Commission has struck deals with drugmakers Roche and Merck KGaA to secure supplies of experimental treatments for Covid-19, a Commission source told Reuters on Wednesday.

The deals cover Roche's arthritis drug RoActemra and Merck's multiple sclerosis drug Rebif - both seen as potential Covid-19 therapies - and will secure supplies for any of the 27 European Union member states wanting to buy them, the source said.

The deals follow requests from EU states in May to acquire the two drugs and come as governments around the world jostle for access to potential Covid-19 therapies and vaccines, even before their efficacy