Pharmaceutical company GSK is to help manufacture the new Novavax vaccine at its plant in County Durham.
The multinational company has reached an agreement with Novavax and the 海角视频 Government Vaccines Taskforce to support manufacturing of up to 60m doses of Novavax’ Covid-19 vaccine candidate at its plant at Barnard Castle.
GSK will provide ‘fill and finish’ services at Barnard Castle and is hoping to start work as early as May.
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The 海角视频 has secured 60m doses of the vaccine under an agreement with Novavax, with part of the vaccine also being produced in the North East through a contract with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies at Billingham.
The fill and finish process is the end stage of vaccine manufacturing, preparing vials of the final vaccine and packaging them for distribution and use.
The GSK site at Barnard Castle, which will deliver the vaccine doses under this collaboration, is a specialised facility in GSK’s global manufacturing network, which supports production of GSK pharmaceutical and vaccine products.
Roger Connor, president of GSK vaccines, said: “GSK is delighted to support Novavax and the 海角视频 Vaccines Taskforce with this manufacturing arrangement for the 海角视频 and our Barnard Castle facility is now undertaking the rapid preparation work required to manufacture up to 60m doses of this vaccine.
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“We have ensured that we can deliver these volumes without impacting supply of our other vital medicines and vaccines, and without disruption to the other Covid-19 collaborations GSK is engaged in globally.”
Earlier this month, the company behind the Novavax jab announced it is 86% effective against the Kent variant and 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original strain of the coronavirus.
According to results of phase three trial in the 海角视频, the jab offers 100% protection against severe disease, including all hospital admission and death.
Rick Crowley, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Novavax, said: “This partnership with GSK continues the expansion of our global supply network, which we expect to increase overall production capacity and, if approved by regulatory agencies, support access to a potentially important new vaccine against Covid-19.
“We thank the 海角视频 Government’s Vaccine Taskforce for its instrumental role in ensuring the progress of our Covid-19 vaccine, from both a clinical and now manufacturing perspective, as well as GSK for making their facilities available to help fight the pandemic.”
The news has been welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said: “I’m delighted by GSK’s investment, which shows the strength of 海角视频 manufacturing, and will further boost our vaccine rollout.
“The Vaccines Taskforce has worked hand in glove with business to successfully deliver vaccines to the whole of the 海角视频, and this agreement will continue to support our approach.
“We remain on track to offer a first jab to all over 50s by April 15, and all adults by the end of July, and I want to once again encourage everyone to come forward for a vaccine when you’re called.”