[ad_1]
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have agreed to provide an additional 100 million doses of the new crown vaccine to the US government Currently, the United States seeks to expand vaccine programs and revitalize the economy.
On December 23, the two companies said in a statement that once the agreement is reached, the total quantity of vaccines they will sell to the United States will reach 200 million doses. Pfizer expects to ship all vaccines to the United States Operation Warp Speed Center, which is responsible for the development of the new corona vaccine, as soon as possible before July 31, 2021.
Countries around the world are searching for vaccine supplies, in hopes that schools and businesses will reopen and tourism will resume. In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom has also started using Pfizer vaccines. At the same time, the European drug regulatory authorities also approved the use of vaccines on December 21.
In light of the promise of pharmaceutical manufacturers to other countries, the United States has been working hard to expand the supply of “pioneering vaccines” like Pfizer. Earlier this month, the United States purchased an additional 100 million doses of Moderna vaccine. As a result, the number of vaccines ordered by the United States from the company doubled to 200 million doses.
Like Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna’s vaccine is based on the “two-shot therapy” of new messenger RNA technology, but does not need to be stored at extremely low temperatures like the Pfizer vaccine.
In July this year, the United States agreed to pay Pfizer US $ 1.95 billion for the purchase of 100 million initial vaccine doses and to retain the right to renew 500 million doses. The statement issued this time stated that the United States will also pay $ 1.95 billion for new orders and provide free vaccines to the American people. The cost of vaccination is paid by the following three parties: private insurance companies, government health plans, and programs developed by the Department of Health and Human Services for the uninsured.
Pfizer consultation with the US government.
For several weeks, the US government and Pfizer have been negotiating the delivery of another 100 million doses of vaccine in the second quarter. Moncef Slavi, the chief scientific advisor to the “Operation Warp” program, said in an interview last week that Pfizer asked the United States to pass the Defense Production Act to help it obtain additional equipment. And materials to achieve the goal of producing sufficient doses.
Previous reports said that earlier this year the government rejected his offer to buy more drugs because Pfizer “had not promised a delivery date.” Slavi said using the National Defense Production Act helps provide more doses of vaccine to the American public more quickly.
Slavi said that the companies that produce vaccines for the “Operation Warp Speed” plan use the same raw materials, and the US government has already prioritized the supply of raw materials for pharmaceutical companies, provided, of course, these companies agree to cooperate with the government to conduct investigations. Development and production.
The conclusion of the new agreement may change the relationship between the US government and Pfizer. Prior to this, Pfizer refused to withdraw money from the “Speed Movement” program to fund its vaccine research.
Slavi said that Pfizer “decided to refuse to obtain resources from the United States government.” “According to the law, if you ask the government to give you support for the National Defense Production Law, the government can intervene in whatever you are producing,” he said.
Treatment drugs for severe cases.
While ensuring the purchase of more vaccines, the US government is also seeking to strengthen the treatment of patients with new coronary pneumonia.
On December 23, the US government reached an agreement in which Merck will provide a new experimental drug for the coronavirus, which was obtained from OncoImmune, which the company recently acquired. Merck said in a statement that once the Food and Drug Administration approves the drug, the government will fund the drug’s development, production and distribution.
According to the statement, by the end of June 2021, Merck will receive US $ 356 million for the production and supply of 60,000 to 100,000 doses of drugs. The therapy aims to suppress inflammation caused by virus-induced damage to human cells, and this inflammation is part of the cause of complications. The therapy is reportedly expected to be used to treat patients with severe new coronary disease. (Chinese Fortune Network)
Compiler: Yang Eryi
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have agreed to supply an additional 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the US as the country seeks to expand its immunization program and jumpstart its economy.
The deal brings the total number of doses to be delivered to the United States to 200 million, the companies said Dec. 23 in a statement. The drugmaker expects to deliver all doses of the US vaccine and Operation Warp Speed drug accelerator by July 31.
Countries around the world are looking for vaccine supplies that they hope will allow for the reopening of schools and businesses and the resumption of travel. The UK has also started dosing the Pfizer-BioNTech injection, and the European pharmaceutical authorities authorized its use on December 21.
The United States has been working to expand supplies of the pioneer vaccine, in light of drug manufacturers’ commitments to other countries. Earlier this month, the US exercised an option to buy an additional 100 million doses of Moderna vaccines, doubling the number it has on orders from that company to 200 million.
Like the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, Moderna’s is a two-injection regimen based on a new technology known as messenger RNA, but it does not have to be stored at the same ultra-cold temperatures as the Pfizer-BioNTech injection.
In July, the United States agreed to pay $ 1.95 billion for 100 million initial doses of Pfizer, with the option to buy a further 500 million. The United States will also pay $ 1.95 billion for the new order, according to the statement, and will provide the vaccine to Americans for free. The cost of administering the vaccines is paid for by private insurance, government health care programs, and a Department of Health and Human Services program for the uninsured.
Negotiations between the United States and Pfizer
The United States and Pfizer had been in talks about delivering another 100 million doses in the second quarter for weeks. Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s chief scientific advisor, said in an interview last week that Pfizer had asked the United States to use the Defense Production Act to help the drugmaker obtain additional equipment and materials to comply with that. objective.
The deal follows reports that the government rejected an offer to buy more doses earlier this year after Pfizer failed to commit to a delivery date. Using the Defense Production Act could help get more doses to the American public faster, according to Slaoui.
Companies that make vaccines for Operation Warp Speed use the same materials, Slaoui said, and the United States has been able to gain priority access to supplies for drug companies that have agreed to work with the government on research, development and manufacturing, he said.
The new agreement could alter the dynamic between the US government and Pfizer, which refused to take money from Operation Warp Speed to fund its vaccine research.
Pfizer “decided they didn’t want to take resources from the US government,” Slaoui said. “If you ask the government to give you the support of the Defense Production Law, the government has, by definition under the law, the ability to get into whatever it is manufacturing.”
Medicine for the deadliest cases
At the same time that the government is ensuring access to more vaccines, it is also seeking to shore up the treatments it has available to people who fall ill with COVID-19.
The United States agreed to a deal on Dec. 23 in which Merck will supply an experimental COVID drug that the company obtained in its recent purchase of OncoImmune. The government will fund the development, production and distribution of the drug once the Food and Drug Administration clears it for use, Merck said in a statement.
Merck will receive about $ 356 million to manufacture and supply 60,000 to 100,000 doses through the end of June, according to the statement. The therapy is designed to reduce inflammation caused by virus-induced damage to human cells, an underlying cause of some complications, and is expected to be used for the treatment of seriously ill Covid patients.
