Which country manufactures Letermovir?

Letermovir is an antiviral drug used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its original developer is Merck & Co., USA. Inc.），是国际上首个专门用于 CMV 预防的创新机制药物。 The drug was first approved for marketing in Europe and the United States in 2017, and was subsequently approved in Japan, South Korea and other countries, and is considered an important preventive solution for high-risk transplant patients in global clinical practice. Due to the use of UL56 terminator enzyme inhibition mechanism, which is completely different from the mode of action of traditional nucleoside antiviral drugs, it has the unique advantages of lower risk of drug resistance and milder bone marrow suppression, which has also allowed it to be quickly recognized in many countries.

In China, letermovir has been officially launched and is available in two dosage forms: tablets and injections, covering the needs of different inpatient and outpatient scenarios.更重要的是，该药已经被纳入 国家医保目录，大幅降低了患者的实际支出压力。 According to the latest market information, most of the prices of a box of letermovir tablets sold in domestic pharmacies are more than RMB 10,000, while the price of injection dosage forms is significantly lower, about a box of about RMB 500 or 600. The specific price will vary depending on regional hospitals and medical insurance reimbursement ratios.得益于医保准入，许多患者的用药可及性显著提高，也促使其临床使用率逐年增加。

In addition to the original Chinese version, generic versions of Letermovir also exist in overseas markets, of which tablets produced by Laos Lucius (Lusys) are the most common. A box of this imitation version only costs about 2,000 yuan, which has obvious price advantages. Therefore, it has certain demand among some patient groups with limited medical resources or tight budgets. Although generic drugs remain consistent in ingredients, there may be differences in production standards, stability verification and long-term clinical data in different regions. Therefore, doctors usually still recommend the original drug as the first choice, especially when high stability and precise dose control are required after transplantation.

In general, letermovir was developed by Merck in the United States. It is now available in many countries around the world and has been commercialized and covered by medical insurance in China, making it an important standard treatment option for post-transplantation CMV prevention. Regardless of whether they choose domestic original drugs or overseas generic drugs, patients should take the drugs under the guidance of a doctor and make the most suitable choice based on their own risks, financial capabilities and clinical needs. Through standardized use, letermovir can significantly reduce the risk of CMV activation after transplantation and improve the success rate of treatment, which has important clinical value for high-risk transplant patients.

Reference materials:https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/letermovir-oral-route/description/drg-20406647