a5975n
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of May 2020
Commission
File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
1
Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge
Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0AA
United
Kingdom
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AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
AstraZeneca
advances response to global COVID-19 challenge as it receives first
commitments for Oxford's potential new vaccine
This announcement contains inside information
21 May 2020 07:00 BST
AstraZeneca advances response to global COVID-19 challenge as it
receives first commitments for Oxford's potential new
vaccine
Company working on a number of agreements in parallel to ensure
broad and equitable supply of the vaccine throughout the world at
no profit during the pandemic
First agreements to supply at least 400 million doses; Company has
total capacity sourced for one billion doses through 2020 and into
2021; continues to increase capacity further
More than $1bn US BARDA investment to support
development and production of the vaccine
AstraZeneca is advancing its ongoing response to address the
unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, collaborating with a number
of countries and multilateral organisations to make the University
of Oxford's vaccine widely accessible around the world in an
equitable manner.
The Company has concluded the first agreements for at least 400
million doses and has secured total manufacturing capacity for one
billion doses so far and will begin first deliveries in September
2020. AstraZeneca aims to conclude further agreements supported by
several parallel supply chains, which will expand capacity further
over the next months to ensure the delivery of a globally
accessible vaccine.
AstraZeneca today received support of more than $1bn from the US
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for
the development, production and delivery of the vaccine, starting
in the fall. The development programme includes a Phase III
clinical trial with 30,000 participants and a paediatric
trial.
In addition, the Company is engaging with international
organisations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health
Organisation (WHO), for the fair allocation and distribution of the
vaccine around the world. AstraZeneca is also in discussions with
governments around the world to increase access. Furthermore,
AstraZeneca is in discussions with the Serum Institute of India and
other potential partners to increase production and
distribution.
AstraZeneca recently joined forces with the UK Government to
support Oxford University's vaccine and has progressed rapidly in
its efforts to expand access around the world. The Company will
supply the UK starting in September and is thankful for the
Government's commitment and overall work on vaccines.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, said: "This pandemic
is a global tragedy and it is a challenge for all of humanity. We
need to defeat the virus together or it will continue to inflict
huge personal suffering and leave long-lasting economic and social
scars in every country around the world. We are so proud to be
collaborating with Oxford University to turn their ground-breaking
work into a medicine that can be produced on a global scale. We
would like to thank the US and UK governments for their substantial
support to accelerate the development and production of the
vaccine. We will do everything in our power to make this vaccine
quickly and widely available."
AstraZeneca has now finalised its licence agreement with Oxford
University for the recombinant adenovirus vaccine. The licensing of
the vaccine, formerly ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and now known as
AZD1222, follows the recent global development and
distribution agreement with
the University's Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group.
AstraZeneca has also agreed to support the establishment of a joint
research centre at Oxford University for pandemic preparedness
research.
A Phase I/II clinical trial of AZD1222 began last month to
assess safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in over 1,000 healthy
volunteers aged 18 to 55 years across several trial centres in southern
England. Data from the trial is expected shortly
which, if positive, would lead to late-stage trials in a number of
countries. AstraZeneca recognises that the vaccine may not
work but is committed to progressing the clinical program with
speed and scaling up manufacturing at risk.
The Company's comprehensive pandemic response also includes rapid
mobilisation of AstraZeneca's global research efforts to discover
novel coronavirus-neutralising antibodies to prevent and treat
progression of the COVID-19 disease, with the aim of reaching
clinical trials in the next three to five months. Additionally, the
Company has quickly moved into testing of new and existing
medicines to treat the infection,
including CALAVI and ACCORD trials
underway for Calquence (acalabrutinib) and DARE-19 trial
for Farxiga (dapagliflozin) in COVID-19
patients.
Financial considerations
Today's announcement is not anticipated to have any significant
impact on the Company's financial guidance for 2020; expenses to
progress the vaccine are anticipated to be offset by funding by
governments.
AZD1222
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, now known as AZD1222, was developed by Oxford
University's Jenner Institute, working with the Oxford Vaccine
Group. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector
based on a weakened version of a common cold (adenovirus) virus
that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic
material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the
surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system
to attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body.
The recombinant adenovirus vector (ChAdOx1) was chosen to generate
a strong immune response from a single dose and it is not
replicating, so cannot cause an ongoing infection in the vaccinated
individual. Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to
more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe and
well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects such
as a temperature, influenza-like symptoms, headache or a sore
arm.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led
biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialisation of prescription medicines,
primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas -
Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory
& Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in
over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by
millions of patients worldwide. Please
visit astrazeneca.com and
follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
Contacts
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please
click here.
For Media contacts, click here.
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
21 May 2020
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By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
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Name:
Adrian Kemp
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Title:
Company Secretary
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