U.S. gives up to $1.2 billion to AstraZeneca for Covid-19 vaccine
The race over funding and access to a Covid-19 vaccine is heating up as the U.S. government pledged to commit up to $1.2 billion to AstraZeneca (AZN) for its efforts and to obtain at least 300 million doses of any vaccine by October. And as part of the deal with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the drug maker will begin late-stage clinical trials this summer with roughly 30,000 people in the U.S.
In a statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called the contract a “major milestone” in Operation Warp Speed, a newly launched Trump administration program to accelerate Covid-19 medical products to the American public. The arrangement with AstraZeneca is being called a public-private partnership and BARDA will provide technology transfers and scaled-up manufacturing.
Read Original Article: U.S. gives up to $1.2 billion to AstraZeneca for Covid-19 vaccine »
