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Italy has held talks with several manufacturers about the start of production of Covid-19 mRNA-based vaccines in the country, with the latest sign that European officials want to delve deeper into these supplies on other types of traits.
Rome has debated the national production of mRNA-based vaccines with the modern American biotechnology, the Swiss Novartis and the Italian ReiThera, according to people familiar with the subject.
Recent talks with Novartis and ReiThera included the possibility of producing the mRNA vaccine developed by CureVac in Germany in Italy, two of the people said.
Basart-based Novartis signed an initial agreement with CureVac in March to manufacture part of the company’s coronavirus vaccine. The shot is still in phase 3 testing, but German biotechnology he said this week expected the vaccine to be approved in the EU in May or June. ReiThera is developing its own adenovirus-based jab, but is still in phase 2 testing.
Talks between Novartis, ReiThera and the Italian government were at an early stage, according to people, and they might not reach a final agreement. Novartis, ReiThera and CureVac declined to comment.
In addition, Mario Draghi, Italian Prime Minister, has spoken directly with the CEO of Moderna, Stéphane Bancel, as reported by other people familiar with the matter. Talks failed, people said, as Moderna did not have the capacity to oversee the transfer of the necessary technology to Italian factories or the staff of those places with the experience needed to increase production.
Modern declined to comment. Previously, the general lack of qualified personnel for vaccines has been noted as a restriction on the expansion of manufacturing.
The Italian effort to ensure the national production of Covid mRNA-based shots, which use the new technology to administer the vaccine to the body, occurs as the EU appears to move away from the adenovirus-based vaccines produced. by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Several European nations have restricted or stopped the use of AstraZeneca firing after the European Medicines Agency found a causal link with a very rare side effect that affects blood clots. The deployment of J&J, a similar type of vaccine, has also been delayed as US and EU authorities investigate a possible link.
EU member states believe they have been punctured for their dealings with AstraZeneca, in particular, which has also failed to meet delivery targets, as it has lowered supply projections to the bloc several times.
“We need to focus now on technologies that have proven their worth,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. “MRNA vaccines are a clear case.” Brussels is now in talks with BioNTech / Pfizer, which produces one of the leading mRNA vaccines, for a dose deal of up to 1.8 billion in 2022-23.
There is no suggestion that doses made in Italian be reserved for the country only. Rather, they would increase European manufacturing capacity and be used to comply with current and future vaccine procurement agreements negotiated by Brussels on behalf of EU member states.
A commission official said Brussels commended Rome’s “commitment to vaccine production” and was aware of contacts between Italian authorities and companies. EU member states’ moves to increase vaccine production were “complementary” to similarly led commission-led efforts and the two were regularly coordinated, the official added.
Fights over vaccine exports and the growing acceptance that people might require annual booster shots have increased incentives for politicians to increase domestic production. Last month, Draghi said the EU’s ability to produce its own vaccines was now as important as military spending.
“People talk a lot about strategic autonomy, often in
reference to defense, security, the single market, ”he said. “Jo
I think the first current strategic autonomy should be vaccines. “
Giancarlo Giorgetti, minister of economic development who would be in charge of any new manufacturing, also said that both Italy and the EU needed to “guarantee us self-sufficiency in terms of
vaccine production ”.
An Italian official, however, said Rome was focused on
supply vaccines for this year and achieve their daily vaccination goals
instead of long-term plans. The Ministry of Economic Development declined to comment, as did the Ministry of Health.
Additional reports by Erika Solomon in Berlin and Hannah Kuchler in London
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