United States biotechnology company Novavax on Tuesday announced that it has revised its existing deal with the Indian pharmaceutical firm Serum Institute of India (SII).
The deal has been revised in order to produce 2 billion doses of its coronavirus vaccine annually.
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Moreover, as a part of the expanded agreement, SII will also manufacture the antigen component of Novavax’ COVID?19 vaccine candidate known as NVX?CoV2373.
In August, Novavax signed a deal with Pune-based firm to produce a minimum of one billion doses of its vaccine candidate for low-and middle-income countries and India.
“Today’s agreement with Serum Institute enhances Novavax’ commitment to the equitable global delivery of our COVID-19 vaccine. With this arrangement, we have now put in place a global supply chain that includes the recently acquired Praha Vaccines and partnerships with leading biologics manufacturers, enabling production on three continents,” said Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax.
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“We continue to work with extraordinary urgency to develop our vaccine, now in Phase 2 clinical trials, and for which we anticipate starting Phase 3 efficacy trials around the world in the coming weeks,” he added.
Novavax said in a statement that the agreement with SII augments a global supply chain that will deliver over two billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 annually as of 2021.
“Signing of the manufacturing agreement with Novavax for NVX-CoV2373 is another great milestone for both companies, which will further strengthen our existing relationship. SIIPL expertise to scale-up and manufacture NVX-CoV2373 will help ensure the supply of this most-needed vaccine,” said Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India.
The antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 is being manufactured at Novavax CZ in Bohumil, Czech Republic (formerly Praha Vaccines), as well as at its partnered manufacturing sites, including in India, Spain, UK, Republic of Korea, Japan, North Carolina and Texas in the US.