After a first contract aborted with the United Kingdom, the Franco-Austrian laboratory has just concluded an agreement with the European Commission. The first deliveries could begin in April 2022.
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It is undoubtedly a relief for Valneva. The European Commission announced Wednesday 10 November to have an agreement with the Franco-Austrian laboratory for the purchase of its VVID-19 vaccine. According to the terms of the contract, the biotech, installed in Saint-Herblain near Nantes, will provide the European Union member countries up to 60 million doses of VLA2001 – the name of its inactivated virus vaccine candidate – at during the next two years, including about 27 million bottles in 2022.
After the Camouflet inflicted by the United Kingdom, which had brutally broke its contract with the pharmaceutical company two months ago, and which provided for the provision of 100 million doses in London, the order of the European Commission arrives Appointed point for Valneva. The company, working on the development of its VVID-19 vaccine since the spring of 2020, had unveiled in mid-October “positive initial” results of its phase 3 clinical trials – the last stage before placing on the market – for its product.
This new vaccine will complement the arsenal made available by the European Union to respond to the health crisis. “The Vaccine VALNEVA adds another option to our extensive portfolio, once its safety and efficiency have been proven by the European Medicines Agency,” commented on the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides.
The announcement of the European contract has redeemed colors to the company
The arrival of this inactivated virus vaccine, more “traditional” technology than that of the messenger RNA used by Pfizer-Biontech and Moderna vaccines – the two most administered solutions today in Europe -, Could convince some adults today reluctant to be vaccinated. Member States could also decide to donate part of these vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, where immunization rates are still low.
It is now at the Franco-Austrian laboratory to obtain an approval by the European regulatory authorities in order to start the marketing of its product. The European Medicines Agency should soon in this context, begin the progressive review of the VLA2001 data. Subject to authorization, the first deliveries of vaccines, of which VALNEVA has already begun production for several months, will arrive in April 2022.
In the meantime, the announcement of the European contract has redeemed colors to the company, which had dropped on the stock market after the termination of the contract with London. The title increased by more than 20% in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday.