AstraZeneca, Oxford Biomedica expand Covid-19 vaccine supply tie-up
AstraZeneca’s vaccine hopeful for the novel coronavirus, AZD1222, already among the leading candidates in the global race for a successful vaccine, moved to late stage trials in the United States this week as the company targets 3 billion doses of the vaccine
AstraZeneca has expanded its previous agreement with Oxford Biomedica to mass-produce the British drugmaker's Covid-19 vaccine candidate, as it looks to scale-up supply ahead of a possible fast-track approval from the United States.
Gene and cell therapy firm Oxford Biomedica said on Tuesday AstraZeneca would give it 15 million pounds ($20 million) upfront to reserve manufacturing capacity at its plant and that it could get an additional 35 million pounds plus other costs until the end of 2021 under the new 18-month deal.
AstraZeneca's vaccine hopeful for the novel coronavirus, AZD1222, already among the leading candidates in the global race for a successful vaccine, moved to late stage trials in the United States this week as the company targets 3 billion doses of the vaccine.
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Oxford Biomedica was among AstraZeneca's initial partners when they teamed up in May to produce the vaccine and Tuesday's deal could be further expanded by another year and a half into 2022 and 2023, Oxford said.
