AstraZeneca Expects Covid-19 Vaccine to Be Available in China Next Year
Xu Wei
DATE:  Nov 24 2020
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
AstraZeneca Expects Covid-19 Vaccine to Be Available in China Next Year AstraZeneca Expects Covid-19 Vaccine to Be Available in China Next Year

(Yicai Global) Nov. 24 -- British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca expects its adenovirus vector Covid-19 vaccine, co-developed with Oxford University, to be approved to go to market in China next year, online news outlet The Paper reported yesterday.

The Cambridge-based firm is working with its Chinese partner Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products to pave the way for the vaccine’s introduction in the world’s most populous country. The construction of the vaccine’s Guangming production base in Shenzhen is on schedule to be finished next month, the report said, citing the two firms.

The two parties agreed on Nov. 5 to start Phase I and II clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine in China this year. They are then expected to apply to market the vaccine in the country after Phase III trials next year.

AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine AZD1222 is up to 90 percent effective in preventing disease with an average efficacy rate of 70 percent, the company said yesterday. The vaccine does not need to be kept at very cold temperatures and can be stored for at least six months at temperatures of between two and eight degrees Celsius.

As the exclusive mainland China distributor of the vaccine, Kangtai is committed to ensuring an annual output capacity of at least 100 million doses by December this year and double that by December next year.

Editor: Kim Taylor

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Keywords:   AstraZeneca,vaccine,Oxford University,Kangtai Biological