ROME, July 6 (Reuters) - A plant in Italy owned by U.S.
group Catalent will help produce the potential COVID-19
vaccine being developed by drugmaker Johnson & Johnson,
Italian Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Monday.
"It is today's news that the vaccine Johnson & Johnson is
working on will also be completed here," the minister said
during a visit to the site in Anagni, a town 70 km from Italian
capital Rome.
The plan to produce the potential vaccine in Italy
represents an expansion of an existing deal between the two
American companies.
In April, New Jersey-based Catalent signed an agreement with
J&J to provide vial-filling and packaging services at its plant
in Bloomington, Indiana.
Catalent is also handling fill and finishing services for
AstraZeneca's project to develop a COVID-19 vaccine at
its plant in Anagni.
It plans to handle hundreds of millions of doses for the
British drugmaker, starting as early as August 2020 and possibly
running through until March 2022.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
