Serum Institute of India in new deal with Novavax
The agreement is expected to support a minimum of one billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 for India and for the low- and middle-income countries
By IAR Desk
Pune-based Serum Institute of India and the US-based Novavax have announced an agreement for the development and commercialization of Novavax’ COVID‑19 vaccine for India and other low- and middle-income countries, The Mint reported today. The agreement is expected to support a minimum of one billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 for India and for the low- and middle-income countries, Novavax said in an interview.
“We believe that Novavax’ NVX-CoV2373 has significant potential to successfully prevent COVID-19. Given our experience with Novavax on the development of a malaria vaccine, we know the power of their vaccine technologies,” reports quoted Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India, as saying. “We will work urgently together to bring this vaccine to patients in these geographies.”
This agreement excludes major upper-middle and high-income countries, for which Novavax continues to retain its rights. Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax, said : “As the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer in terms of doses delivered, Serum Institute is the ideal partner to advance NVX‑CoV2373 throughout India and the low- and middle-income countries. This partnership continues to build on our companies’ collaborative history.”
Earlier this month, Novavax had reported that its vaccine candidate was generally very well-tolerated and elicited robust antibody responses numerically superior to that which was seen in human convalescent sera in Phase I and Phase II of the trials.
According to that very agreement, for low- and middle-income countries, Novavax and Serum Institute are partnering on clinical development, co-formulation, filling and finishing and commercialization of Novavax’s covid vaccine. Serum Institute will only be responsible for regulatory submissions and marketing authorizations. Novavax will be providing Serum Institute both vaccine antigen, and also Matrix‑M adjuvant.
Media reports also said the two companies are in discussion to have Serum Institute manufacture vaccine antigen in India. Novavax and Serum Institute will split the revenue from the sale of product, to net of agreed costs.
Serum Institute has also partnered with Oxford University-Astra Zeneca for manufacturing covid vaccine in India. Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to the Serum Institute of India, Pune to conduct the Phase II+III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) and organise and held it in India, claimed reports.
