The deal, under the Trump administration`s Operation Warp Speed, favors the development of a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies that can prevent COVID-19, especially in high-risk populations like the over-80s, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said. The vaccine candidate, which is being developed with Oxford University, is one of two projects for which Australia has formal procurement agreements at this stage. As part of an agreement between the federal government, AstraZeneca and CSL, the Australian biotech plans to make more than 30 million doses of the product in Melbourne from next year. AstraZeneca, based in Cambridge, England, said it had reached agreements for at least 400 million doses of the vaccine and provided production capacity for 1 billion doses, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in September. The company today reached a $750 million agreement with CEPI and Gavi to support the production, supply and distribution of 300 million doses of the vaccine, with delivery beginning at the end of the year. In addition, AstraZeneca has entered into a licensing agreement with SII for the supply of one billion doses to low- and middle-income countries, with the obligation to unlock 400 million euros by the end of 2020. Eli Lilly said Friday that he had not signed an agreement with Operation Speed. „This agreement with the U.S. government will accelerate the development of our long-term antibody combination, which has the potential to have an immediate and lasting effect in both the prevention and treatment of COVID 19 infections,” said Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, in a press release. „We will evaluate the combination of LAAB in different environments, from prophylaxis to hospitalization to outpatient care, with an emphasis on helping the most vulnerable.” AstraZeneca has taken the next steps in its commitment to broad and equitable global access to Oxford University`s COVID 19 vaccine, after concluding pioneering agreements with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Serum Institute of India (SII). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Plc to develop and supply the company`s CoVID-19 antibody treatment, a cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies – a similar class of drugs that was administered to President Donald Trump.
AstraZeneca has committed, as part of its first delivery agreements, to supply 400 million doses. The U.S. agreement, through HHS`s BARDA agency, follows a British pact that was unveiled Sunday for a total of 100 million doses. This gives the U.S. delivery of about 300 million doses of vaccine starting this fall. AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, scientific biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription drugs, particularly for the treatment of diseases in three therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic and respiratory and immunology. AstraZeneca, based in Cambridge, UK, is present in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
