BERLIN (Reuters) – BioNTech is working out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, the founders said, warning of gaps until Distribute other vaccines.
The beginning of German biotechnology has led the vaccine race but the bullet has been slow to reach the European Union due to the relatively late approval of the bloc’s health regulator and the small size of the bloc. was the order sent by Brussels.
The delay in the roll-out of the home vaccine has caused a stir in Germany, where some regions had to suspend vaccinations within days of starting an inoculation campaign.
“At the moment it doesn’t look good – a hole is popping up because there is a shortage of other approved vaccines and we need to fill the gap with our own vaccine,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told Spiegel weekly news.
Sahin co-founded BioNTech with his wife, Oezlem Tuereci, who is the company’s chief medical officer. Both overturned the EU’s decision to issue orders in the hope that more vaccines would be agreed soon.
The United States ordered 600 million doses of a BioNTech / Pfizer image in July, while the EU waited until November to order half of that amount.
“At some point it became clear that it would not be possible to deliver so quickly,” Tuereci told Spiegel. “By then it was already too late to place follow-up orders.”
Following the publication of the interview, BioNTech said it was in talks with Brussels about promoting production.
“We are in fruitful talks with the European Commission on how to make more of our vaccines in Europe, for Europe,” a spokesman said.
NEW Production
BioNTech hopes to launch a new production line in Marburg, Germany, ahead of schedule in February, with a capacity to deliver 250 million doses in the first half of 2021, Sahin said.
Negotiations are also underway with contract manufacturers and there should be more clarity by the end of January, he said.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Twitter that the German authorities would do everything possible to start speedily in Marburg.
The federal government, which has backed BioNTech with 375 million euros ($ 458 million) in funding, has resisted calls from opposition leaders to speed up their vaccination by phasing out mandatory licenses for other drug dealers.
Another vaccine from Moderna is expected to be cleared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Jan. 6.
Spahn has also urged the EMA to approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca University image that was evicted by Britain. The EU timeline for such treatment remains uncertain.
That vaccine was approved by the Indian drug regulator on Friday for emergency use, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
VIRAL VARIANT
Sahin said the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to fight the human immune system against the coronavirus, should be able to deal with a new, more infectious variant that was first discovered in Britain.
“We’re testing whether our vaccine can neutralize this variant and we’ll know more again,” he said.
When asked about dealing with a strong mutation, he said it would be possible to switch the vaccine as needed within six weeks – although new treatments such as regulatory approval may be required. more.
Sahin also said that BioNTech would make its vaccine, which needs to be stored at around 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), easier to handle, adding that the next generation vaccine could be ready by the end of the year. summer.
Reciting with Douglas Busvine; Edited by John Stonestreet and David Goodman