AveXis to Manufacture Mass General’s COVID-19 Vaccine

Novartis-subsidiary AveXis has entered into an agreement to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts Eye and Ear. 

AveXis will supply the gene-therapy vaccine at no cost for COVID-19 trials scheduled to begin in the second half of 2020 and will expand production if the candidate is successful.

The AveXis agreement signals Novartis’ re-entry into the vaccine market. The company sold off its vaccine business to GlaxoSmithKline in 2015.