East Yorkshire smart science specialist Croda is now gearing up to play a transatlantic role in the Covid vaccine production after it was given the go-ahead in the 海角视频.
The FTSE-listed company has deployed teams to produce the ingredient that carries the active element into the body in Britain and in the US.
Vaccination could now start next week.
Croda, a global pharma and chems opeation, will produce after signing a five-year deal with Pfizer for four component excipients.
The agreement was revealed last month, after early results were made public. It has now been given regulatory approval in Britain - a world-first.
At the time, Steve Foots, chief executive of the Snaith-headquartered business, told how Croda had “reprioritised investment, resources and other projects across the group over the last few months to focus on the delivery of this project”.
Today, a spokesperson for Croda said: “Congratulations to Pfizer and BioNTech for achieving 海角视频 regulatory approval for their COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. We’re proud to be on the team and playing our part in the battle to fight the most significant pandemic that we have seen in a generation.”
The company is remaining tight lipped on where the drug delivery systems will be produced, confirming only the 海角视频 and US, with domestic production thought to be heading to Pfizer’s Belgian operations.
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A total of 40 million doses have been ordered - enough to vaccinate 20 million people - with the two injections administered 21 days apart.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had approved the jab after “months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts” from the regulator.
He said they have concluded that the vaccine has “met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness”.
Praise has also come from Business Secretary Alok Sharma. He told how “the 海角视频 was the first country to sign a deal with Pfizer/BioNTech - now we will be the first to deploy their vaccine”, thanking everyone involved inthe breakthrough.
He added: “In years to come, we will remember this moment as the day the 海角视频 led humanity’s charge against this disease.”
The approval for widespread use has also been welcomed by business leaders.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, CBI President, said: “The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine represents a major breakthrough in our fightback against Covid-19. All parties deserve real credit for getting through the 海角视频’s rigorous approvals process at speed – making it the first country in the world to hit that important milestone. After the loss of so many lives and livelihoods, it really does feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“Given the vaccine rollout will take time, three things are needed now to shore up confidence. Mass, rapid testing must be rolled out as far and wide as possible from the community to workplaces. Meanwhile, to protect people’s jobs, firms need clarity about the level of support through to March and beyond, along with transparent trigger points for exiting higher tiers and a robust, evidence-based approach for ongoing restrictions.”