CSL passes on Novavax, with focus on AstraZeneca vaccine

Biotech News: CSL confirmed that the company does not have the capacity to simultaneously produce AstraZeneca and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines in Australia.

Novavax is now looking for an alternate manufacturing partner locally.

CSL is already under contract to locally make 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and is currently churning out more than a million doses a week. 

Australia is relying on deliveries from Pfizer after restricting the use of AstraZeneca vaccine in April in people below 50 years due to rare blood-clotting cases.

In January, the government ordered 51 million doses of Novavax’s vaccine, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) allowing the company to apply for provisional registration of the shot.

You may also like Dynamic women awarded for outstanding contributions to the health industry

Novavax has delayed its timeline for ramping up COVID-19 vaccine production, saying it does not expect to seek regulatory authorisation in the United States, Britain and Europe until the third quarter of 2021.

“At this time CSL does not have the capacity to simultaneously manufacture both the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines,” a spokesperson said in response to questions by Reuters.

“We remain fully focused on production of the AstraZeneca vaccine,” the spokesperson said, adding that CSL welcomes “discussions with governments as to how we can support Australia’s ongoing vaccination needs.”