GSK, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and J&J reveal significant collaboration and investment in COVID-19 research and development

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) has updated the world’s media on the biopharmaceutical industry’s unprecedented efforts, many of them in collaboration with others, to speed up research and development for a new COVID-19 vaccine.

The body representing the global biopharmaceutical industry also highlighted at the briefing that plans are underway to scale up manufacturing at risk even though it is not sure yet which, if any, vaccines in development will be found to be safe and effective. Such investments decisions are unprecedented and demonstrate companies are not taking a “business as usual” approach in their response to the global pandemic.

Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer said “I have never been more proud of the way the industry has responded to a global crisis. We need a solution and we need it fast.”

The industry reaffirmed its acute awareness of the enormous responsibility it has to patients and society to bring its knowledge and expertise to bear, in collaboration and in partnership with others, in finding a coronavirus vaccine and thereby live up to the commitment it is giving to deliver safe, quality, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines to all.

A new vaccine to protect people from COVID-19 holds the greatest promise of ending the pandemic, but there are no guarantees that one will be found.

Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson said “We are working with several partners. The regulatory authorities have been exceptional. The partnerships with contract manufacturers, academic and healthcare institutions and other companies have been outstanding. It’s a race against the virus, not a race against each other.”

The biopharmaceutical industry is working at unparalleled speed and sparing no resources to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in record time. As of 27 May 2020, the WHO reports there are currently 10 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 115 candidate vaccines in preclinical evaluation. Between 5 – 10 vaccines will need to be launched to serve the entire world.

Several biopharmaceutical companies are researching vaccine candidates and are collaborating in the sharing of existing technologies that can be leveraged to allow a rapid upscale of production once a vaccine candidate is identified.

Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline said “GSK offered our unique pandemic adjuvant technology to multiple partners, multiple vaccine candidates. It’s a proven technology in pandemic situations and it’s safe and effective.”

Thomas Cueni, IFPMA Director General, is acutely aware of the challenges “Not only does the science have to be on our side if we are to quickly find a coronavirus vaccine, but we also have to find ways of being able to produce hundreds of millions, possible billions of doses of the new vaccine. Then people need to be vaccinated in sufficient numbers to protect whole communities. And, all the while, we should continue to produce existing
vaccines.”

He admits the task on hand is larger than any attempted before and beyond the power of any single entity. Cueni explains “The only way to deliver on our promise of safe, equitable, affordable coronavirus vaccines is for science and collaboration on a global scale to prevail.

Be in no doubt, our member companies are fully engaged in the race to find a vaccine. We are fully committed to playing our full role within existing partnerships, such as ACT Accelerator and Gavi, on the basis that we wholeheartedly embrace the goal of providing new coronavirus vaccines for all.”

Pascal Soriot, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca said “We will have a vaccine, hopefully several, before the end of this year. That’s what we’re all aiming at and working hard to achieve as an industry.”

Looking to the upcoming Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance replenishment, Cueni declared “While we should give our undevoted attention to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not fall into the trap of forgetting the need for ongoing immunisation efforts to continue as well as being very vigilant in tracking any future virus.”

He confirms that the biopharmaceutical industry will continue its 20-year history of working in partnership with Gavi, founded in 2000, that has led to nearly half the world’s children being protected against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases.”

He announced “Next week, we pledge to play our part in protecting the health of the next generation and support Gavi’s mission to reach 300 million more children with the full protection of the broadest vaccine portfolio in history.”

Speakers

• Pascal Soriot, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca
• Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline
• Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer
• Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson
• Thomas Cueni, Director General, IFPMA