Pfizer/BioNTech sign vaccine contract with EC

The deal includes an option for the European Commission to request an additional 100 million doses of BNT-162-b2. That’s the largest initial order of vaccine doses for the two companies, which priced a vaccine dose in a deal on 100,000 doses with the former US government at $19.95. Deliveries are anticipated to start by the end of 2020, subject to clinical success and market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). In contrast to the US FDA, the EMA hasn’t defined a minimum threshold for efficacy for unknown reasons. Vaccine doses for Europe will be produced in Biontech’s German manufacturing sites, as well as in Pfizer’s vaccine plant in Belgium.

Based on current projections, the companies expect to produce globally up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. "Our aim is to develop a safe and effective vaccine to contribute to bringing this pandemic to an end. Only through joint efforts will we be able to do so," said Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of Biontech.

In addition to engagements with governments, Pfizer and Biontech expressed interest for possible supply to the COVAX Facility, a mechanism established by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and World Health Organization (WHO) to deliver vaccine doses to resource-poor countries.