The European Union (EU) is in talks with the pharmaceutical groups Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, BioNtech and CureVac to conclude advance purchase agreements for potential vaccines against Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, reported two European sources.
Information on the ongoing talks was shared by the European Commission with European health ministers at a meeting in Berlin on Thursday, the sources said.
Confidentiality
“We are in discussions with several companies on possible vaccines against Covid-19,” said Friday to a spokesman for the European Commission, refusing to say more about their identity for reasons of confidentiality.
The exchanges would be at a more advanced stage with Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson, according to sources.
300 million doses of the potential vaccine
The block plans to secure in the second half of next year 300 million doses of the potential vaccine developed by the French Sanofi in cooperation with the British GlaxoSmithKline, said the sources.
Asked about these negotiations, Sanofi said he was in “advanced talks with the EU for the delivery of 300 million doses”.
Advanced stage
The European Union is also negotiating a supply of 200 million doses of the potential vaccine from U.S. giant Johnson & Johnson, the sources said, adding that additional deliveries could be considered.
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