Novavax partners with Takeda to deliver COVID-19 vaccine in Japan
US biotechnology company Novavax has signed a deal with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture and market a COVID-19 vaccine in Japan, it was announced on Friday, August 7.
Novavax will supply Takeda with NVX‑CoV2373, a vaccine engineered from the genetic sequence of SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In preclinical trials, scientists found that NVX‑CoV2373 produced the antibodies necessary for vaccine protection against the disease.
The Japanese government will provide Takeda with funding to support the technology, infrastructure and manufacturing required to develop and market the vaccine in the country.
According to Takeda, it will have the capacity to manufacture more than 250 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine a year in Japan.“Takeda’s leading position in Japan, technical expertise, regulatory know-how and manufacturing capacity make the company an ideal partner to further expand the global availability of NVX‑CoV2373,” said Stanley Erck, president and chief executive officer of Novavax. “We look forward to collaborating with Takeda to rapidly develop, produce and commercialise the vaccine in Japan.”
Takeda will be responsible for regulatory submissions to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and will produce and distribute NVX‑CoV2373 in Japan.“Nothing is more important right now than protecting the world against COVID-19. We are excited to collaborate with Novavax to bring their promising vaccine candidate to Japan,” said Rajeev Venkayya, managing director and president of the global vaccine business unit, Takeda.
“Today’s announcement builds upon our ongoing support of pandemic preparedness and demonstrates Takeda’s commitment to the health and well-being of the Japanese population,” he added. Novavax will be entitled to receive payments based on the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, as well as proceeds from the vaccine.
Last month, Novavax was awarded $1.6 billion by the US federal government as part of Operation Warp Speed , a programme aimed at delivering COVID-19 vaccines to US citizens. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is also investing up to $388 million to advance clinical development of NVX‑CoV2373, and the Department of Defense is investing up to $60 million of funding.
This month the US government also agreed to pay up to $2.1 billion to Sanofi and GSK for the development and delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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