Sanofi to Support Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Production Amid EU Supply Shortfalls from Pfizer and AstraZeneca

Recently, both Pfizer Inc. in the United States and AstraZeneca PLC in the United Kingdom have stated that they will reduce their supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the European Union in the short term, citing adjustments in production capacity as the reason.

For example, in mid-February, Pfizer announced that it was adjusting vaccine production capacity at a manufacturing facility in Belgium, which would temporarily reduce vaccine deliveries to Europe, with expectations of restoring original delivery levels by early February.

On the 22nd, AstraZeneca announced that due to reduced production capacity at a European manufacturing site, the volume of vaccines originally scheduled for delivery to the European Union in the first quarter would be cut from approximately 80 million doses to around 31 million doses, representing a 60% reduction compared to its previously committed supply. On the 26th, AstraZeneca further justified its prioritization of vaccine supplies to the United Kingdom, stating that its agreement with the UK government had been signed three months earlier than the deal with the EU.

This move has sparked strong dissatisfaction within the European Union, with relevant officials criticizing AstraZeneca for “violating the spirit of contract” and demanding that it “must take responsibility” and deliver vaccines on schedule. Other media reports have stated that Italy and Poland have warned they may take Pfizer to court.

In fact, vaccine shortages are almost universal.

According to Bloomberg’s report on the 26th, more than 68 million vaccine doses have been administered in 56 countries and regions worldwide. Israel has the highest vaccination rate, with 42.9 doses administered per 100 people; the United States has completed 23.5 million vaccine doses.

However, even within the United States, issues of unequal distribution persist. On the 26th, both New Jersey and New York City stated that the current supply of COVID-19 vaccines was insufficient to meet local vaccination demands. New Jersey was forced to close vaccination sites, while the Mayor of New York City indicated that there was “almost no supply” available to schedule new COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Previously, Australia announced the rollout of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with injections starting in late February. Although the government hoped to have 4 million Australians immunized by the end of March, it also cautioned that vaccination speeds in Australia could slow down due to tight global supplies.

In EU countries, this phenomenon appears even more pronounced. The Guardian pointed out that there are significant disparities in vaccination progress among EU member states, and the overall pace lags behind that of the UK and the US. Data shows that among the 450 million people in EU member states, only about 8.5 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with an average of just 1.89 doses per 100 people. In contrast, the UK has administered 10.38 doses per 100 people, while the US has administered 6.6 doses per 100 people.

In light of the aforementioned circumstances, the European Union is poised to introduce a “Transparency Registration System,” under which all vaccine manufacturers operating production facilities within the EU must notify authorities before exporting vaccines to non-EU countries. However, this proposal has sparked considerable controversy since its inception. Some media outlets have interpreted it as “vaccine export controls” or a “blockade,” while British media have labeled it “vaccine nationalism” and “vaccine protectionism.” In response to these criticisms, the EU stated that the initiative aims to enhance transparency in vaccine production and delivery, and should not be simplistically equated with export controls. It is reported that the EU will soon release detailed implementation guidelines for this mechanism.

Furthermore, talks between the European Commission and AstraZeneca will continue to ascertain the true reasons for the failure to deliver vaccines as scheduled.

According to foreign media reports, Sanofi recently announced a collaboration with Pfizer and BioNTech to assist the two companies in producing 100 million doses of mRNA vaccines.

At the end of last year, Sanofi had to delay its vaccine development efforts due to unsatisfactory trial progress. In a recent interview with Le Figaro, France’s highest-circulation newspaper, CEO Paul Hudson stated that Sanofi is currently in discussions with Pfizer and BioNTech to assist in the production of mRNA injectable vaccines. A Sanofi spokesperson also confirmed the partnership between Sanofi, Pfizer, and BioNTech, stating that Sanofi would provide infrastructure and specialized production lines to help BioNTech produce over 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Europe in 2021. The Sanofi spokesperson indicated that the first batch of contract-manufactured vaccine products would be delivered from Sanofi’s facility in Frankfurt, Germany, in August, and that Sanofi considers this partnership “feasible” from both “technical and timing perspectives.”

Sanofi’s efforts to assist in the production of Pfizer vaccines will primarily focus on processes such as drug filling and packaging. Negotiations regarding the production of vaccine active ingredients are still ongoing, and Sanofi needs to secure necessary logistical support and technology transfer.

The inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has also drawn the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO). On January 18, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to share vaccines more equitably, noting that at least 49 high-income countries had administered over 39 million vaccine doses, while one low-income country had received only 25 doses. On the 26th, Tedros reiterated that vaccine nationalism could lead to global economic losses of up to $9.2 trillion.

Sources: CCTV Finance, Beijing Business Today, CRI Online, FiercePharma, etc.