GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said it will manufacture 1 billion doses of its pandemic vaccine adjuvant system in 2021 to support the development of multiple adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
The pharmaceutical company says its pandemic adjuvant technology could make a significant contribution against COVID-19. GSK’s pandemic adjuvant can reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose. This allows more vaccine doses to be produced, which can lead to protecting more people. Further, an adjuvant can enhance the immune response.
GSK has formed several collaborations, including with scientific partners in North America, Europe, and China, to develop vaccines. Discussions with potential partners on further collaborations are ongoing. The company will manufacture the adjuvant for use in COVID-19 vaccines at sites in the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Europe.
“We believe that more than one vaccine will be needed to address this global pandemic, and we are working with partners around the world to do so,” Roger Connor, president, GSK Global Vaccines, said. “We believe that our innovative pandemic adjuvant technology has the potential to help improve the efficacy and scale-up of multiple COVID-19 vaccines. With this significant expansion in our manufacturing capacity, we can help deliver up to 1 billion doses of adjuvanted vaccines through 2021, helping protect many more people and support the global effort to fight COVID-19.”
GSK is committed to making its adjuvant available through fair access to people across the world, including the world’s poorest countries. GSK does not expect to profit from sales of its portfolio of collaborations for COVID-19 vaccines made during this pandemic phase, as profit generated will be invested in support of coronavirus related research and long-term pandemic preparedness.