The European Commission is in talks with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to 200 million doses of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine that is under development. It is the latest effort by the commission to protect EU citizens against the pandemic.
The commission said the contract will allow European countries to buy the vaccine from the U.S. pharma giant in a statement. The countries will donate their surplus to poor and middle-income countries.
“If regulatory approval for the company’s vaccine is received, the Commission would be expected to facilitate a process for allocation of the vaccine doses among the member states,” Johnson & Johnson said.
The deal offers the EU an option to purchase an additional 200 million doses later. In addition to Johnson & Johnson, the commission said that it is in talks with other vaccine developers to allow early access to their vaccine in case of breakthrough.
J&J signs deal With U.S. to supply 100 million of its vaccine
J7J has also signed an agreement with the Trump administration to supply 100 million doses of its experimental vaccine against COVID-19. The deal, which is valued at $1 billion, is the latest among several that the government has signed with pharmaceutical companies.
The agreement will see the company produce and deliver 100 million doses of its SARS-CoV-2 investigational vaccine. According to a statement by J&J, this is also indicating that the vaccine is expected to progress to a late-stage trial in September.
The U.S government has signed similar deals with Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc to allow access to their experimental vaccine against COVIFD-19.
U.S. reaches a deal with Moderna for 100 million of its vaccine
The US has also signed an agreement with Moderna to purchase 100 million doses of its experimental vaccine against COVID-19. The vaccine is currently in late-stage trials. In a statement, Modernasaid that its mRNA-1273, vaccine is worth $1.53 billion. The deal gives the government another option to buy 400 million additional doses.
The government has been bankrolling pharmaceuticals that are engaged in the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the Trump administration invested up to $2.48 billion, with $955 million towards Moderna’s vaccine development.
