BioNTech CEO "Vaccine Approval Expected Mid-December... Normalization Anticipated Next Summer"

"According to Plan, COVID-19 Control Possible from Mid-Next Year"
"Hundreds of Millions to be Produced from Early Next Year... Supply Chain to be Organized"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Ugur Sahin, CEO of German biotech company BioNTech, which is developing a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine jointly with American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, stated that they will soon request emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and expect approval around mid-next month.

On the 18th (local time), CEO Sahin said in an interview with CNN, "We will apply for emergency use authorization from the FDA on the 20th and expect approval as early as mid-December." He added, "Distribution is expected to begin by the end of the year, and if everything goes according to plan, COVID-19 could be controlled by mid-next year." CEO Sahin also mentioned, "We may receive conditional approval from the European Union (EU) authorities in the latter half of December."

He emphasized, "Our goal is to produce and supply hundreds of millions of doses during the first half of 2021," adding, "Everything is progressing smoothly, and if we organize the supply system more systematically going forward, we should be able to spend next summer and winter normally." He further added, "Governments of all countries need to focus on increasing vaccination rates before the start of next fall."

On the same day, Pfizer announced that the final analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine, jointly developed with BioNTech and currently in phase 3 clinical trials, showed an infection prevention efficacy of 95% even among older adults, based on data from all 40,000 clinical trial participants. Previously, Pfizer had announced interim results based on data from 94 participants, reporting a prevention efficacy exceeding 90%.

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