Polish biotech Mabion has inked a deal to make batches of the antigen Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate uses as an initial step toward a potential manufacturing contract.

If Novavax’s adjuvanted protein-based vaccine candidate is approved for use and operations run smoothly with the initial antigen batch, Mabion may become the first Polish company engaged in the worldwide effort to supply sufficient quantities of COVID-19 vaccines to serve the global need, the company said.

As part of the agreement, Mabion will get $8.8 million in financing from Poland’s state development fund to double the company’s production capacity in central Poland.

These initial steps for demonstration of feasibility will take place during the first half of 2021.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate is likely to be approved for use in Europe this quarter. EU countries, such as Poland, have struggled to obtain their own supplies of COVID-19 vaccines authorized and secured by the 27-member trade bloc.