Argentina secures 22 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from AstraZeneca and Oxford Uni

pharmafile | November 9, 2020 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing |  Argentina, AstraZeneca, COVID-19, Vaccine 

AstraZeneca has committed to an agreement to deliver 22 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, co-developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, to Argentina.

The nation, with a population of 44.5 million, is among the countries worst-affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so far seeing 1.23 million cases and more than 33,000 deaths. The country has already reserved 10 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and has a smaller-scale deal with Pfizer’s candidate, with a possible delivery date around the turn of the New Year.

As noted in the deal, deliveries are expected to launch in the first half of next year, dependent on the therapy’s clinical and regulatory success.

AstraZeneca appears confident that Phase 3 efficacy data will be made public before the year is out. The company said in an announcement: “Results from late-stage trials are anticipated later this year, depending on the rate of infection within the communities where the clinical trials are being conducted. Data readouts will be submitted to regulators and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.”

 Matt Fellows