Takeda Launches Japan's First Recombinant Protein-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Nuvaxovid

Source: PharmaCube Info

Author: Sunshine

On April 19, Takeda announced that the COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373) had been approved for marketing in Japan for primary and booster immunization in individuals aged 18 years and above. This is the first recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for use in Japan.

NVX-CoV2373, developed by Novavax, was first approved for marketing in the EU in December 2021. In August 2020, Takeda acquired the rights for its development, production, and commercialization in Japan. According to the press release, Takeda is expected to produce more than 250 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine annually.

The vaccine is an antigen derived from the spike protein of the coronavirus, used in conjunction with the Matrix-M adjuvant (a saponin-based adjuvant) to enhance the immune response and the production of neutralizing antibodies in the human body. NVX-CoV2373 consists of two doses, administered 21 days apart, and can be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius, making it easier to store and transport, which is beneficial for middle- and low-income countries.

In June 2021, Novavax announced the results of two pivotal Phase III clinical trials of NVX-CoV2373, with excellent efficacy and safety data. In the trial conducted in the United States, NVX-CoV2373 demonstrated 100% protective efficacy against moderate to severe COVID-19 patients, with an overall efficacy of 90.4%; in the trial conducted in the UK, the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine was 89.7%.

In addition, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Takeda imported and distributed Moderna's mRNA vaccine Spikevax in Japan.