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mAbxience to Produce AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Latin America

August 14, 2020

AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with mAbxience of the INSUD Group to produce AZ’s COVID-19 vaccine for most of Latin America from manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Argentina.

The deal between the UK-based drugmaker and Spain-based mAbxience provides for an initial production of 150 million doses, which could be extended to up to 250 million doses. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2021, provided the vaccine is approved.

The vaccine, which AZ has licensed from the University of Oxford, is expected to cost between $3 and $4 per dose.

The deal does not apply to Brazil, where AstraZeneca has entered into a separate supply deal. The country initially reached a $127 million agreement with AZ for 30 million doses. But Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly authorized an additional $360 million to secure at least 100 million more doses.

AZ has entered into multiple partnerships to expand production of its vaccine candidate, which is currently in late-stage trials. It is committed to supplying 300 million doses to the U.S. through a $1.2 billion Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority contract and 400 million doses to Europe through an agreement with the Inclusive Vaccines Alliance.

In June, the company forged a $750 million partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to manufacture and distribute 300 million doses of the vaccine globally. It also hashed out an agreement with the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses for low- and middle-income nations (DID, June 5).

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson, whose COVID-19 vaccine candidate is not as far along in trials, recently wrapped up talks with the European Commission and is now expected to enter into an advanced purchase agreement with the EU. The commission said the agreement would initially purchase 200 million vaccine doses and include an option to buy 200 million more. — James Miessler