Drug dealer AstraZeneca says it will work with German company IDT Biologika to increase shipments of their COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the spring following a heated controversy with the bloc over delayed delivery of vaccines
LONDON – Drug dealer AstraZeneca says it will work with German company IDT Biologika to increase shipments of their COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the spring following a heated controversy with the bloc over vaccine delivery by delay.
The Anglo-Swedish company said on Wednesday that the two companies were “exploring options” to accelerate vaccine production in the second quarter of this year. AstraZeneca is already involved in the manufacture of vaccines with IDT.
In the long term, AstraZeneca is also planning a joint investment to expand the IDT Biologika plant in Dessau, Germany, by building up to five 2,000-liter bioreactors capable of tens of millions of doses of vaccinations per month, the companies said. The additional capacity is expected to be operational by the end of 2022. IDT Biologika said the extent of AstraZeneca’s involvement in the project is subject to future negotiations.
“This agreement will greatly help Europe to build an independent vaccine manufacturing capacity that will meet the challenges of the pandemic and create a strategic supply capability for the future,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said. “We are delighted to invest with our IDT partner Biologika in the health, security and wellbeing of millions of citizens across Europe.
The news comes after EU leaders called for AstraZeneca to live up to its contracts with the bloc after the drug dealer announced it was reducing initial shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine as a result. on production issues.