30th Apr 2020 11:02
(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC and Oxford University on Thursday announced a deal to make and distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine.
The collaboration is focused on the university's ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, currently in development by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group. Phase 1 clinical trials began last week in healthy volunteers and data could be out as soon as next month, with late-stage trials following by the middle of 2020.
Pharmaceutical giant Astra will be responsible for the vaccine's development, manufacturing and distribution.
Astra's chief executive officer, Pascal Soriot, said: "As Covid-19 continues its grip on the world, the need for a vaccine to defeat the virus is urgent. This collaboration brings together the University of Oxford's world-class expertise in vaccinology and AstraZeneca's global development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities. Our hope is that, by joining forces, we can accelerate the globalisation of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people from the deadliest pandemic in a generation."
Shares in Astra were up 3.0% at 8,453.00 pence in London in late morning trading.
By Anna Farley; [email protected]
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