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(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Wednesday said it has signed a letter of intent with IDT Biologika to increase Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing in Europe and ensure supply capacity over the long term.
Millions of doses of Astra's vaccine, developed along with the University of Oxford, started shipping on Friday last week following conditional marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency on January 29. An initial 17 million doses are set to be delivered over the next weeks and more in March.
Astra and IDT have agreed to explore options for accelerating the output of finished vaccines in the second 2021 quarter so as "to help support Europe's immediate vaccination needs during the pandemic."
Furthermore, the two plan to strengthen vaccine manufacturing capability in Europe through a joint investment, building "large additional drug substance capacity for the future". Details of this are still to be finalised.
Both companies will invest in capacity expansion at IDT's Dessau production sit in Germany, building up to five 2,000-litre bioreactors able to make tens of millions of doses a month of the vaccine. These assets are set to become operational by 2022 end.
Astra noted that this investment could also allow for manufacture of other vaccines with similar manufacturing processes, "greatly expanding" domestic vaccine production capability in Europe. IDT will have one of the largest vaccine manufacturing capacities of its kind in Europe, which will be important in securing future vaccine supply independence for Europe.
Astra Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said: "This agreement will greatly help Europe build an independent vaccine manufacturing capability that will allow it to meet the challenges of the current pandemic and create strategic supply capacity for the future. We are delighted to be investing with our partner IDT Biologika in the future health, security and wellbeing of millions of citizens across Europe. I would like to thank the German federal government and the European Commission for their support in our efforts."
Shares in Astra were up 0.3% at 7,334.00 pence in London on Wednesday afternoon.
This follows other Covid-19 news for Astra, with new research from Oxford University, published Wednesday, showing that inhaled budesonide – a corticosteroid sold under the brand name Pulmicort by AstraZeneca - cut the risk of requiring urgent care or hospital treatment by 90% in a study of 146 people.
It was further found that recovery time reduced if people were given the inhaler within seven days of the onset of symptoms. Those on the inhaler also saw symptoms such as fever fade more quickly.
Half of those on the trial took 800 micrograms of the medication twice a day while the other half were given usual care.
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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