Pfizer and BioNTech have entered a second agreement with the US Government for the supply of an additional 100 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine from production facilities in the country.
With the latest deal, the total number of BNT162b2 doses to be delivered to the US will be 200 million.
By 31 July next year, the companies plan to supply the complete doses to Operation Warp Speed (OWS).
For the additional 100 million doses, the companies will receive $1.95bn from the US government.
The vaccine is authorised for use under an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunisation to prevent Covid-19 in people aged 16 or above.
Pfizer chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said: “With these 100 million additional doses, the US will be able to protect more individuals and hopefully end this devastating pandemic more quickly.
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By GlobalData“We look forward to continuing our work with the US Government and healthcare providers around the country.”
According to the agreement, Pfizer and BioNtech will supply at least 70 million of the additional doses by 30 June and 30 million doses in July next year.
The government can also exercise the option to acquire up to an additional 400 million doses of the vaccine.
In a separate development, the US Department of the Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have entered an agreement with Merck (MSD) for MK-7110.
Under the agreement, they will support the development and manufacture of investigational biological therapies to treat hospitalised patients with severe or critical Covid-19.
Merck acquired the potentially recombinant fusion protein, CD24Fc, which will be named MK-7110, from clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company OncoImmune.
According to the deal, the company will get $356m for manufacturing and supplying 60,000 to 100,000 doses of MK-7110 to the US Government by 30 June next year to meet the OWS goals.
This funding will aid in the development of MK-7110, including completing activities needed to seek EUA from the US FDA.