Sanofi is set to produce more than 125 million doses of BioNTech and Pfizer coronavirus vaccine after collaboration, according to Bloomberg. The French drugmaker will give BioNTech access to a Frankfurt production facility, which will start delivering the doses this summer.
- Sanofi’s deal with BioNTech and Pfizer comes as its initiative to develop a covid vaccine stumbled and won’t be ready by summer as planned.
- The pact will speed up vaccination efforts in the European Union and ease the complex process of packaging and distributing the vaccines at ultra-cold temperatures.
- The agreement also raises hopes of more pharma giants throwing their manufacturing and distribution weights behind the few effective coronavirus shots.
- Sanofi’s deal is the first time a drugmaker will work to help make a rival’s vaccine, but it doesn’t mean that the company will abandon working on developing a vaccine of its own.
- Sanofi’s vaccine candidate in development with GlaxoSmithKline PLC will enter another intermediate clinical trial in February, with the potential to reach the market in the fourth quarter.
- The drugmaker also plans to begin early clinical trials for a messenger RNA vaccine candidate it is developing with Translate Bio Inc. in February or March.
Sanofi, BioNTech, and Pfizer stocks are currently declining. SAN: EPA is down 0.42%, BNTX: NASDAQ is down 1.76% on premarket, PFE: NYSE is down 0.91% on premarket.
