Wen, directly negotiated vaccines… “Agree on supply for 20 million people”

The Blue House announced on the 29th that the US pharmaceutical company Modena will supply 20 million vaccines for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) to Korea from the second quarter of next year. When the contract with Modena is completed, the number of Corona 19 vaccines secured by Korea will increase to 56 million people.

Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said at a briefing that day, “President Moon Jae-in made a video call with Stanfan Vansel Modena CEO (CEO) from 9:53 to 10:20 last night. During the 27-minute call, Bancell’s CEO agreed to supply 40 million doses of 20 million people to Korea.” Initially, the government’s negotiations with Modena amounted to 10 million people, but it has doubled.

Spokesman Kang said, “We decided to accelerate the vaccine supply period. “Modena initially decided to supply the supply from the third quarter of next year, but it was decided to start from the second quarter.” It also said that the government and Moderna decided to make additional efforts to further accelerate the supply period.

Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine for which Korea has completed a contract is worth 36 million people. On the 23rd, Janssen (for 6 million people) and Pfizer (for 10 million people) completed the contract, and on the 27th of last month, it signed a supply contract for 10 million people with AstraZeneca. In addition, it has secured 10 million people through Cobax Facility (a joint purchase method through WHO). In addition, if a vaccine contract for 20 million people is completed with Modena, Korea will also have a vaccine acquisition ratio of more than 100% of the population. According to statistics compiled by Bloomberg as of the 22nd, 32 out of 37 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have already surpassed 100%.

After making an agreement with Modena, President Moon said, “I congratulate the success of Modena vaccine and the approval for emergency use, and on behalf of the Republic of Korea, I am grateful for the hope of overcoming the coronavirus.”

In response, Bancell CEO said, “We are very grateful for the warm words and high evaluation of our vaccine, and we will do our best to ensure an early supply.” In particular, “If the Korean government wants to sign a contract quickly, the contract will be possible within this year, and hope for the Korean people. I hope this is the news.”

Spokesman Kang said, “We plan to sign a vaccine supply contract within this year.” A key official at the Blue House said, “At first, it was difficult to have a contract within the year. Yesterday’s call has pushed the contract point forward,” he said. “I don’t know if there will be a delay of a day or two in the working-level negotiation process, but anyway, the government will negotiate with the goal of making the contract possible within a few days.”

President Moon and CEO Bancell also agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Institute of Health and Infectious Diseases of Korea in Tonghua to cooperate in joint response to the pandemic (infectious disease pandemic), clinical trials, and research and development. It also decided to strengthen cooperation for consignment production of modders and vaccines to Korean companies.

“Even if a new virus emerges, cooperation with Korea will be able to shorten the time taken for the development of the corona vaccine,” said Mr. Bancell, a spokesman Kang said. He also said, “I know that the Korean government is placing great importance on the development of new bio drugs and that large Korean companies have strong production capabilities.” “The production capacity was insufficient despite the development of vaccines, so it will be possible to build large-scale production capacity during consignment production.” I said it.

President Moon said, “In the event of a new infectious disease in the future, the Korean government will not spare any active support in establishing a cooperative system for promoting joint research as well as establishing a close cooperative relationship with Modena and domestic pharmaceutical companies to enable rapid supply through mass production.” Replied.

Reporter Yoon Seongmin [email protected]