Explained: India, China to Bangladesh, these COVID-19 vaccines likely to be available | Know when and which
Regulators in Asia are weighing approval for COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc, but few nations expect to get significant supplies initially. Here are details of estimated distribution timelines, announced supply deals and clinical trials in India, China, Bangladesh, Australia and Japan
Regulators in Asia are weighing approval for COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc, but few nations expect to get significant supplies initially. Here are details of estimated distribution timelines, announced supply deals and clinical trials in India, China, Bangladesh, Australia and Japan. Source: Reuters
INDIA
Last month, the head of the Serum Institute of India, which makes the AstraZeneca vaccine, said a positive late-state trial result would allow it to seek approval by year-end for emergency use of its candidate, before getting approval for full introduction by February or March.
India also expects a government-backed vaccine to be launched as early as February. It is also holding a late-stage trial of Sputnik V. Source: Reuters
CHINA
China has not announced supply deals with Western drugmakers, which have partnered with private firms in the country instead. AstraZeneca`s vaccine may be approved in China by mid-2021 and its Chinese partner Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd plans annual production capacity of at least 100 million doses by the end of this year.
Additionally, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd plans to buy at least 100 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Tibet Rhodiola Pharmaceutical Holding Co is bringing in Russian vaccine candidate Sputnik V and plans early and mid-stage trials in China.
China has also approved three vaccine candidates developed by Sinovac and state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) for emergency use. Sinopharm hopes its two candidates will get conditional approval for general use this year. Source: Reuters
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh signed a deal with India`s Serum Institute to buy 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
It also expects to receive 68 million doses from global vaccine alliance GAVI at a subsidised rate, a senior health ministry official said. Source: Reuters
AUSTRALIA
The country has secured about 140 million doses: 53.8 million from AstraZeneca, 51 million from Novavax Inc, 10 million from Pfizer, and 25.5 million from distribution programme COVAX. It expects delivery of 3.8 million doses of AstraZeneca`s vaccine in January and February 2021 and plans to begin inoculations in March. Source: Reuters
JAPAN
Japan has deals to buy 120 million doses from Pfizer/BioNTech in the first half of 2021 and 120 million from AstraZeneca - the first 30 million to be shipped by March 2021 - and 250 million from Novavax.
It is also in talks with Johnson & Johnson, and has a deal with Shionogi & Co Ltd.
Experts said vaccine makers would need to run at least Phase I and II trials in Japan before seeking approval for use. Source: Reuters