The United States government has secured a USD 1.95bn deal with BioNTech and Pfizer for 100mn doses of the experimental coronavirus vaccine once it gets the approval of the FDA.
It could be possible that an extra 500mn doses could be acquired while the US citizens would get the vaccine completely for free, as per the agreement.
A Phase 2b/3 vaccine trial, with the human subjects, has been scheduled to begin later in July. Besides, it would be subject to a regulatory review by October 2020. Once successful, 100mn doses shall be manufactured by this year end and possibly over 1.3bn would be developed next year.
As per Alex Azar, Secretary, Health and Human Services, introducing a vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer to the Operation Warp Speed inoculation-development program of the government boosts the chances that we might have an effective, safe vaccine by this year end.
Operation Warp Speed’s goal is to deliver 300mn doses of an effective and safe coronavirus vaccine by coming January. The initiative boosts the production as well as distribution of trials, treatments and vaccinations for the virus, which has infected over 3mn US citizens and killed 142,000 so far.
Notably, BioNTech and Pfizer are presently analyzing 4 possible coronavirus vaccines. Two of the vaccines have got FDA’s Fast Track designation, thus expediting the production process.
