Under the terms of the deal, the companies will supply 105 million doses of their Omicron-adapted Covid-19 vaccines, subject to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorisation

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US can also procure additional 195 million doses. (Credit: Mat Napo on Unsplash)

Pfizer and BioNTech have signed a new $3.2bn agreement with the US government to supply additional doses of their Covid-19 vaccine to the US.

Under the terms of the deal, the companies will supply 105 million doses of their Omicron-adapted Covid-19 vaccines, subject to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorisation.

The US government can also procure up to 195 million additional doses, which brings the total doses to be supplied to reach 300 million.

Initial doses under the agreement are planned to be delivered as soon as late summer this year and continue through the fourth quarter.

Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Albert Bourla said: “As the virus evolves, this new agreement will help ensure people across the country have access to vaccines that may provide protection against current and future variants.

BioNTech chief business and chief commercial officer Sean Marett said: “This agreement will provide additional doses for US residents and help cope with the next Covid-19 wave.

“Pending regulatory authorization, it will also include an Omicron-adapted vaccine, which we believe is important to address the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.”

Earlier this month, Pfizer and BioNTech unveiled data showing positive safety, tolerability and immunogenicity for two of their Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates.

In a separate development, the US government also expanded its purchase agreement with Lilly to procure additional doses of its Covid-19 antibody drug.

The company has previously agreed with the US government to supply 60,000 doses of bebtelovimab to the US for a consideration not less than $720m.

Under the terms of the expanded deal, Lilly will supply additional 150,000 doses of bebtelovimab, which showed effectiveness against the Omicron variant, in exchange for around $275m.

The US government also has an option to procure additional 350,000 doses, to be exercised within 14 September this year, as per the agreement.

Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) supported the purchase.

Lilly would immediately start the delivery of the doses and complete them by 5 August 2022.

Lilly chair and CEO David A Ricks said: “Lilly and its collaborators have partnered closely with the federal government throughout the pandemic to ensure broad and equitable access to our monoclonal antibodies.

“While Congress works toward additional Covid-19 funding, Lilly and the U.S. government will continue to work together to support the availability of bebtelovimab to maximize equity and accessibility in the US market.”