Astrazeneca Share News (AZN)

(Sharecast News) - AstraZeneca inked a deal with for European countries to provide its Covid-19 vaccine, if successful, starting from the end of 2020.
The deal was signed with the Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), which is led by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, for the supply of as many as 400.0m doses.

The hope was to have 100.0m doses available for the States by the end of the year, together with 30.0m for the UK and about 100.0m for the rest of Europe.

Similar deals are already in place with the UK, US the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, a vaccine alliance, for 700.0m doses.

A licensing agreement also exists with the Serum Institute of India to supply a further 1.0bn doses targetting low- and middle-income countries.

Pascal Soriot, Astra Zeneca's Chief Executive Officer, said: "This agreement will ensure that hundreds of millions of Europeans have access to Oxford University's vaccine following approval. With our European supply chain due to begin production soon, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly. I would like to thank the governments of Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands for their commitment and swift response."

In a conference call, Soriot added that the vaccine would also be manufactured at cost, with governments picking up the tab for development and production, and the with the final doses probably costing a few dollars each.

Oxford University began its phase II/III trial for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222, in approximately 10,000 adult volunteers in May with other late stage trials due to begin in several countries.

AstraZeneca conceded that the vaccine might not work but was committed to progressing the clinical programme at speed and scaling up manufacturing 'at risk'.

All member countries of the European Union would reportedly have the opportunity to join the deal.