Pfizer/BioNTech to Supply EU 200 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer and BioNTech are nearing the finish line for a COVID-19 vaccine supply agreement with the European Commission (EC), wrapping up exploratory talks Wednesday and beginning the contract negotiation process for 200 million doses of their candidate.

The anticipated deal would also provide an option for 100 million more doses of the companies’ mRNA-based vaccine, BNT162b2. Manufacturing has already begun at BioNTech’s German manufacturing sites and at Pfizer’s facility in Belgium.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the anticipated agreement “an important step forward in our shared goal to have millions of doses of a vaccine against COVID-19 available for vulnerable populations before the end of the year.”

The vaccine candidate in currently in a 30,000-participant global phase 3 trial and is on target for regulatory review as early as October, the companies said.

The partners initially began assessing four vaccine candidates, narrowing the list down to two hopefuls that received FDA Fast-Track designations. The companies ultimately chose their BNT162b2 candidate to advance into late-stage trials after evaluating phase 1/2 trial data (DID, Aug. 21).

Pfizer and BioNTech have been hammering out supply deals around the world, including with the U.S., which issued a massive $1.95 billion contract for 100 million doses and 500 million optional additional shots (DID, July 23). The UK has also locked in 30 million doses (DID, July 21) and Japan has secured 120 million doses (DID, Aug. 3). — James Miessler