Pharma Giant AstraZeneca To Mass Produce Oxford COVID Vaccine For No Profit To Help Millions
The human trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University scientists reportedly began last week. Now, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has offered to mass-produce the COVID-19 vaccine developed by them.
The human trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University scientists reportedly began last week. Now, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has offered to mass-produce the COVID-19 vaccine developed by them.
Reuters
Human trials of the experimental jab is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and the first results are expected in mid-June. If the trials are successful and the vaccine proves to be effective against coronavirus then the deal will allow the UK to access to the vaccine 'as early as possible', the university said.
Details of the agreement are set to be finalised in the coming weeks. The venture will be not-for-profit and only the costs of production and distribution would be covered.
Generally, developing vaccinations can take up to a decade and scientists say that finding an effective cure within 18 months would be 'unprecedented'.
Therefore many countries have already begun human trials, like USA and Germany.
We¡¯re partnering with @AstraZeneca to ensure that our #COVID19 vaccine, if successful, can be manufactured & distributed to those who need it as quickly as possible.
¡ª University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) April 30, 2020
This will be on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic:https://t.co/b0gnSV9q2v
Professor Sir John Bell, of Oxford University, told Today that the challenge will be to be able to manufacture at large scale once it is approved by the regulators.
¡°We also want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale so that it gets to populations in developing countries, for example, where the need is very great. We really need a partner to do that and that partner has a big job in the UK because our manufacturing capacity in the UK for vaccines isn't where it needs to be, and so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca to improve that considerably,¡± Daily Mail quoted him as saying.
This is the first such partnership to be formed since the government launched the Vaccines Taskforce two weeks ago to help find a new coronavirus vaccine.
The university said that both partners have agreed to operate on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic.
1/3 NEWS: Hugely welcome news that @AstraZeneca has signed an agreement with @OxfordUni to take its promising #coronavirus vaccine to scale.
¡ª Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) April 30, 2020
Tweeting about the news Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote. 'The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine¡¯.
2/3 The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine.
¡ª Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) April 30, 2020
He further said, ¡®The science is uncertain, and no vaccine may work, but this deal gives the UK the best chance we can of a breakthrough that could defeat this awful virus. I'm sending best wishes for good fortune to all involved - for the sake of the nation and indeed the whole world.'
All UK has to do now is wait for the results of the human trials, and hope they are positive.
Fb Image credit: AP
