The article states significant costs were borne by Merck and the associated company as the US government (BARDA) declined to fund the development of the drug.

The article states significant costs were borne by Merck and the associated company as the US government (BARDA) declined to fund the development of the drug. If the drug development had been fully funded by the US government, I’d see a stronger case. Instead, it seems like the funding here is via a pre-purchase agreement at $712 per course. We’ve essentially funded it for poor countries too because the article mentions the drug is being immediately licensed in India as a generic at $12.