Valneva COVID-19 vaccine deal pulled by UK government
pharmafile | September 13, 2021 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Boris Johnson, Scotland, UK government, Vaccine, Valneva, booster, covid19
Boris Johnson and the UK government have terminated its deal with specialist vaccine company Valneva after it was alleged the company breached its obligations – a claim that the French firm denies.
The supply deal for 100 million doses of the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001, was agreed in February, with 60 million set to be delivered by the second half of 2021, and the final 40 million in 2022.
Read: UK secures early access to 90 million doses of coronavirus vaccines
Read: Valneva’s inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate advances to Phase III trial
Valneva is continuing its Phase III trial, Cov-Compare, with Public Health England with the hope that results will be available in the fourth quarter of this year, supporting a rolling submission for conditional approval with the MHRA.
Valneva’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed at a manufacturing site in West Lothian, Scotland, utilises an inactive version of coronavirus that aims to teach the body’s immune system to cope and fight against the virus.
The contract signed with Valneva for 100 million doses of their COVID-19 candidate makes it the third biggest deal secured by the UK behind Pfizer-BioNTech, 135 million doses, and in line with Oxford-AstraZeneca, 100 million doses.
While this represents a setback for the French vaccine producer, they are still seeking potential customers for the vaccines, and will work to rollout the jabs once MHRA approval is given.
The UK has fully vaccinated close to 44 million people, while Boris Johnson is ruling out the need for lockdowns over the autumn and winter amid booster jab plans.
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