US partners with Moderna for 100 million doses of Covid19 vaccine

Moderna Inc has announced that the US government has secured 100 million doses of a novel coronavirus vaccine, mRNA-1273, developed by this biotechnology company. This is part of the US Government’s goal of security early access to the safe and effective COVID 19 vaccines for the American people.

Details

The Department of Health and Human Services has declared that the US Government has awarded Moderna $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of its experimental COVID 19 vaccine current undergoing the Phase III clinical trial. The trial has begun from July 27, 2020. Under this deal, the US Government, as part of the Operation Warp Seed, will also have the option to purchase an additional 400 million doses of the vaccine, if required. Moderna will manufacture the vaccine doses whereas the clinical trials are underway since it will reduce the overall time required to launch the same.

Regarding the Phase III Trial

The Phase III trials for the vaccine are being conducted in collaboration with the NIH and BARDA. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial will include approximately 30000 participants in the United States. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority is collaborating with the others regarding the trial. If the vaccine is approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration after the trial, it will be distributed among the US citizens as COVID 19 vaccine.

About Operation Warp Seed

This is a partnership among the agencies of Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense, engaging with private firms and other federal agencies, and coordinating among existing HHS-wide efforts to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID 19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

About BARDA

BARDA works in the aegis of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and it invests in the innovation, advanced research and development, acquisition and manufacturing of medical countermeasures such as drugs, vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostic tools and non-pharma products needed to combat the health security threats. The BARDA products have achieved 55 FDA approvals to date.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2020