Pfizer and BioNTech announced the signing of a letter of intent with Biovac to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution within the African Union. Technical transfer, on-site development, and equipment installation activities will begin immediately, according to the companies.
Pfizer and BioNTech expect that Biovac’s facility in Cape Town, South Africa, will be incorporated into the vaccine supply chain by the end of 2021. Biovac will obtain drug substance from facilities in Europe, and manufacturing of finished doses will begin in 2022. At full operational capacity, the annual production will exceed 100 million finished doses annually. All doses will exclusively be distributed within the 55 member states of the African Union.
Pfizer and BioNTech select contract manufacturers through a rigorous selection process based on several factors: quality, compliance, safety track record, technical capability, capacity availability, highly trained workforce, project management abilities, prior working relationship, and commitment to working flexibly on a fast-paced program. Pfizer and Biovac have worked together since 2015 on the sterile formulation, fill, finish, and distribution of the Prevenar 13 vaccine. The vaccine protects against the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause serious infections.
- BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany
- The Biovac Institute (Pty) Ltd. (Biovac), Cape Town, South African
- Pfizer Inc., New York, USA
Also of Interest
- Collection: SARS-CoV-2 Virus
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