On Monday 3rd August, Indian drugmaker Wockhardt announced that it will supply millions of doses of multiple COVID-19 vaccines to the United Kingdom. The manufacturing is slated to be undertaken at CP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Wockhardt based in Wrexham, North Wales.
The government had earlier announced that it had entered into an agreement with pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt to provide 'fill and finish services'. The crucial 'fill and finish' stage of the manufacturing process involves dispensing the manufactured vaccine substance into vials ready for it to be distributed.
Dr Habil Khorakiwala, Founder Chairman of Wockhardt emphasised, “The pandemic of COVID-19 is a challenge for all and needs a concerted effort to overcome. We are proud to be collaborating with the UK Government to make vaccines available and the arrangement brings in a huge sense of purpose and pride, it upholds our ongoing commitment to fight against such a pandemic of global human importance. As a global organisation, we are focussed and committed to assist in mitigating the worldwide impact of COVID-19.”
As per the terms of the agreement the company has reserved manufacturing capacity to allow for the supply of multiple vaccines to the UK including AZD1222, the vaccine developed by Oxford University and its spin-out company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca.
Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Government of UK said, “Ensuring the UK has the capability to research, develop and manufacture a safe and effective vaccine is critical in our fight against coronavirus. Today we have secured additional capacity to manufacture millions of doses of multiple Covid-19 candidates, guaranteeing the supply of vaccines we need to protect people across the UK rapidly and in large numbers."
Kate Bingham, Chair of UK Vaccines Task Force in a statement said, “Never before have we needed to find and manufacture a vaccine at this speed and scale in order to protect the UK population. We have made significant progress in securing a diverse portfolio of potential vaccines and treatments for Covid-19, adding a fourth vaccine candidate from GSK and Sanofi last week. However, discovering a successful vaccine is only part of the solution, we also need to be able to manufacture it. Fill Finish is a critical step in the process to get the vaccine in a form to be given to patients. The agreement with Wockhardt will boost our capability to ensure that from the moment a successful vaccine is identified we will be able to produce the quantities of vaccine required, as quickly as possible, for the people who need it."
