(Mexico, August 12, 2020) – AstraZeneca signed an agreement with the Carlos Slim Foundation, a Mexican non-profit organization, to contribute to the production in Argentina and Mexico and distribution without economic benefit in Latin America, of the potential COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222, during the pandemic. This agreement will initially provide 150 million doses in the region, excluding Brazil, which will be covered by AstraZeneca's agreement with the Brazilian Government announced last June. Shipments are expected to begin in the first half of 2021, should clinical trials prove successful.
AstraZeneca recognizes the urgency of the global pandemic and will work in partnership with partners to supply the vaccine so that it is equitably available. AstraZeneca is working with strategic partners in Latin America, including Argentina and Mexico, taking advantage of their production capacity to facilitate the early availability of the potential vaccine.
This is another important milestone in AstraZeneca's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in its efforts to support broad and equitable access to the potential vaccine. Recently, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca announced interim results from a UK phase I/II clinical trial that showed robust immune responses against the SARS-CoV2 virus in all participants.
Sylvia Varela, President and CEO of AstraZeneca, Mexico, said: “We are very proud of the work that AstraZeneca does on the science front and within the industry to help save lives and mitigate devastating humanitarian consequences, social and economic that this global pandemic has had. And, in particular, it fills us with great satisfaction to be part of an alliance with partners in Latin America where our sole objective is to provide rapid access to the potential vaccine in Mexico and throughout the Latin American region."
The Carlos Slim Foundation, expressed: “We are concerned about collaborating in combating this unprecedented pandemic that has a great impact on health, the economy and employment, with consequences for people and their families. We regret the loss of numerous lives, as well as the impact on the global economy and employment. Based on the research of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, a potential vaccine is in development that is in phase 3 with encouraging expectations, consequently we join the effort for its production in Mexico and Argentina so that the supply to Latin America. If its efficacy and safety are proven and it is approved by the health authorities, it would make a decisive contribution to avoiding further loss of life, and would allow a return to normality.”
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AstraZeneca is a science-led global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas: oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, and respiratory and immunology. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients around the world. Visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
