November 11, 2020 -- Pfizer and BioNTech, developers of BNT162b2, a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, have reached an agreement with the European Commission (EC) to supply 200 million doses of the vaccine to the European Union (EU) member states.
The companies anticipate delivery of the vaccines starting by the end of 2020, upon clinical success and regulatory authorization. The vaccine doses for Europe will be produced in BioNTech's German manufacturing sites, as well as Pfizer's manufacturing site in Belgium.
If the vaccine receives regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), then doses will be ordered by EU member states who have elected to receive the vaccine. As part of the agreement, the EC has an option to request an additional 100 million doses of the vaccine.
The companies began exploratory talks with the EC to supply doses of the vaccine on September 9. Now, the proposed supply agreement is final.
Pfizer and BioNTech are working on additional possible supply of the vaccine to the Covax Facility, an initiative established by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI); and the World Health Organization. The Covax initiative aims to provide governments, including those in emerging markets, with early access to a large portfolio of COVID-19 candidate vaccines using a range of technology platforms.