OnMay 21, 2020, AstraZeneca announcedthat it is advancing its ongoing response to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral organizations to make the University of Oxford’s potential vaccine (an adenovirus vector carrying mRNA coding for the virus Spike protein; the vaccine was first called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and is now known as AZD1222) widely accessible around the world in an equitable manner. The Company has concluded the first agreements for at least 400 million doses and has secured total manufacturing capacity for one billion doses so far and will begin first deliveries in September 2020. AstraZeneca aims to conclude further agreements supported by several parallel supply chains, which will expand capacity further over the next months to ensure the delivery of a globally accessible vaccine. AstraZeneca today received support of more than $1 billion from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development, production, and delivery of the vaccine, starting in the fall. The development program includes a Phase III clinical trial with 30,000 participants and a pediatric trial. In addition, AstraZeneca is engaging with international organizations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO), for the fair allocation and distribution of the potential vaccine around the world. AstraZeneca is also in discussions with governments around the world to increase access. Furthermore, AstraZeneca is in discussions with the Serum Institute of India and other potential partners to increase production and distribution.Login Or Register To Read Full Story