The COVID-19 vaccine has not yet received clinical approval, but doses will start manufacturing in Australia this week.
CSL confirmed Sunday that it will start manufacturing the coronavirus vaccine at the University of Oxford / AstraZeneca in Victoria, starting Monday.
The ASX-listed biotech company has separate contracts with AstraZeneca and the federal government to manufacture nearly 30 million doses of the AZD1222 vaccine.
The first doses are scheduled to be launched in the first half of 2021, pending clinical trial outcome and regulatory approval.
The vaccine will not be released for use until clinical trials and relevant manufacturing data are reviewed and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Dr Andrew Nash, CSL’s chief science officer, said the announcement marked an important milestone and the end of “several months of round the clock preparation”.
“There is still a long way to go and our first priority remains firmly the safety and efficacy of our vaccines,” Dr. Nash said in a statement on Sunday.
“We are carrying out these manufacturing activities at risk and in parallel with clinical trial and approval processes in appreciation of the high urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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