British pharma giant AstraZeneca has started to mass-produce its experimental AZD1222 vaccine, being developed by Oxford University, and plans to roll out up to two billion doses of a coronavirus vaccine in September.
Pharmaceutical partnership
University of Queenslandhas partnered with pharmaceutical giant CSL to produce up to 100 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, which uses an innovative ‘molecular clamp technology’, by the end of next year, according to a ABC news report.
The home-grown vaccine has showed promising early results in the laboratory following which a deal has been struck between the University of Queensland (UQ), CSL and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to fund human trials, which will start next month.
UQ researcher Paul Young said 120 people would be recruited for the first trial to test the vaccine’s safety and monitor the impact on the immune system. Next, a further 800 to 1,000 people will take part in the next stage of the vaccine trial.
Planning for vaccine production
Japan Health Minister has recently said the country was aiming to put coronavirus vaccines into use by June 2021 — in time before hosting the Tokyo Olympics, originally planned for this summer.
“We strive for the soonest implementation of the vaccination, the goal is the first half of 2021. We will be securing production facilities in parallel with expedited vaccine development,” Japan’s Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters.
The Japanese government has earmarked 146 billion yen ($1.34 billion) for vaccine production and distribution. Japanese pharmaceutical firms developing coronavirus vaccines include Shionogi & Co and AnGes Inc.
Singapore, which is developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies as well as a vaccine and have started clinical trials, recently said it was ramping up its vaccine manufacturing capacity in order to offer “fill and finish” contract manufacturing services to vaccine developers.
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