Pfizer and BioNTech are expected to begin the delivery of BNT162b2 vaccine by the end of 2020, pursuant to its success in clinical trials and receipt of regulatory authorisation
The entrance to Pfizer World Headquarters in Manhattan, New York. (Credit: Coolcaesar/Wikipedia.)
Pfizer and BioNTech have agreed with the European Commission to supply 200 million doses of their investigational mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate BNT162b2 to the European Union (EU) Member States.
The agreement also provides the European Commission with an option to procure an additional 100 million doses of the potential vaccine in the future.
In September this year, the vaccine manufacturers have concluded their talks with the European Commission to supply the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate doses after approval, which is now finalised.
Pfizer chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said: “Since the onset of the pandemic, Pfizer’s priority has been to develop a safe and effective vaccine, while simultaneously scaling up our manufacturing to deliver doses before the end of the year. This is an ambitious goal but critical to halting this global pandemic.
“Today’s finalized supply agreement with the European Commission represents the largest initial order of vaccine doses for Pfizer and BioNTech to date and a major step toward our shared goal of making a COVID-19 vaccine available to vulnerable populations.”
Pfizer, BioNTech to begin the supply of BNT162b2 vaccine by end of 2020
Pfizer and BioNTech are expected to begin the delivery of BNT162b2 vaccine by the end of 2020, pursuant to its success in clinical trials and receipt of regulatory authorisation.
BioNTech’s German manufacturing sites along with Pfizer’s manufacturing site in Belgium will manufacture the BNT162b2 vaccine doses to be supplied to Europe.
The EU Member States who opted to receive the vaccine are expected to order the doses once the vaccine candidate is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Earlier this month, Pfizer and BioNTech announced the first interim efficacy analysis from the Phase 3 clinical study of their mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate.
The interim analysis showed that BNT162b2 is more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 in participants without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, without any serious safety concerns.
BioNTech CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin said: “As a company founded in the heart of Europe, we are looking forward to supplying millions of people upon regulatory approval. We would like to thank the Commission and the Member States for their support and trust in our Covid-19 vaccine candidate.
“Our aim is to develop a safe and effective vaccine to contribute to bringing this pandemic to an end. Only through joint efforts will we be able to do so.”