AstraZeneca PLC AstraZeneca advances response to COVID-19 outbreak (5972N)
May 21 2020 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMAZN
RNS Number : 5972N
AstraZeneca PLC
21 May 2020
This announcement contains inside information
21 May 2020 07:00 BST
AstraZeneca advances response to global COVID-19 challenge as it
receives first commitments for Oxford's potential new vaccine
Company working on a number of agreements in parallel to ensure
broad and equitable supply of the vaccine throughout the world at
no profit during the pandemic
First agreements to supply at least 400 million doses; Company
has total capacity sourced for one billion doses through 2020 and
into 2021; continues to increase capacity further
More than $1bn US BARDA investment to support
development and production of the vaccine
AstraZeneca is advancing its ongoing response to address the
unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, collaborating with a number
of countries and multilateral organisations to make the University
of Oxford's vaccine 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 $1bn 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 programme includes a Phase III
clinical trial with 30,000 participants and a paediatric trial.
In addition, the Company is engaging with international
organisations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health
Organisation (WHO), for the fair allocation and distribution of the
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.
AstraZeneca recently joined forces with the UK Government to
support Oxford University's vaccine and has progressed rapidly in
its efforts to expand access around the world. The Company will
supply the UK starting in September and is thankful for the
Government's commitment and overall work on vaccines.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, said: " This pandemic is
a global tragedy and it is a challenge for all of humanity. We need
to defeat the virus together or it will continue to inflict huge
personal suffering and leave long-lasting economic and social scars
in every country around the world. W e are so proud to be
collaborating with Oxford University to turn their ground-breaking
work into a medicine that can be produced on a global scale. We
would like to thank the US and UK governments for their substantial
support to accelerate the development and production of the
vaccine. We will do everything in our power to make this vaccine
quickly and widely available."
AstraZeneca has now finalised its licence agreement with Oxford
University for the recombinant adenovirus vaccine. The licensing of
the vaccine, formerly ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and now known as AZD1222,
follows the recent global development and distribution agreement
with the University's Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine
Group. AstraZeneca has also agreed to support the establishment of
a joint research centre at Oxford University for pandemic
preparedness research.
A Phase I/II clinical trial of AZD1222 began last month to
assess safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in over 1,000 healthy
volunteers aged 18 to 55 years across several trial centres in
southern England. Data from the trial is expected shortly which, if
positive, would lead to late-stage trials in a number of countries.
AstraZeneca recognises that the vaccine may not work but is
committed to progressing the clinical program with speed and
scaling up manufacturing at risk.
The Company's comprehensive pandemic response also includes
rapid mobilisation of AstraZeneca's global research efforts to
discover novel coronavirus-neutralising antibodies to prevent and
treat progression of the COVID-19 disease, with the aim of reaching
clinical trials in the next three to five months. Additionally, the
Company has quickly moved into testing of new and existing
medicines to treat the infection, including CALAVI and ACCORD
trials underway for Calquence (acalabrutinib) and DARE-19 trial for
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) in COVID-19 patients.
Financial considerations
Today's announcement is not anticipated to have any significant
impact on the Company's financial guidance for 2020; expenses to
progress the vaccine are anticipated to be offset by funding by
governments.
AZD1222
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, now known as AZD1222 , was developed by Oxford
University's Jenner Institute, working with the Oxford Vaccine
Group. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector
based on a weakened version of a common cold (adenovirus) virus
that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic
material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the
surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to
attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body .
The recombinant adenovirus vector (ChAdOx1) was chosen to
generate a strong immune response from a single dose and it is not
replicating, so cannot cause an ongoing infection in the vaccinated
individual. Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to
more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe and
well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects such
as a temperature, influenza-like symptoms, headache or a sore
arm.
As traZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led
biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialisation of prescription medicines,
primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas -
Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory
& Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in
over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by
millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and
follow the Company on Twitter @ AstraZeneca .
Contacts
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team,
please click here . For Media contacts, click here .
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
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