WHAT THE MANUFACTURING LANDSCAPE CAN TELL US NOW

WHAT THE MANUFACTURING LANDSCAPE CAN TELL US NOW

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Saturday, May 15, 2021 INSIGHTS What the manufacturing landscape can tell us now Author: Andrea Taylor Manufacturing projections for Covid-19 vaccines seem to shift on a near-weekly basis. We are not even halfway into 2021 and already we have seen adjustments, both up and down, across all vaccine makers. 2021 projections differ by vaccine platform Overall, we see 2021 projections increasing for mRNA vaccines Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, while decreasing for viral vector vaccines Oxford-AstraZeneca and Janssen (J&J). AstraZeneca, in particular, has faced significant manufacturing issues throughout its global production network. In addition to the well-covered constraints slowing down manufacturing in Europe and the Serum Institute of India, partners in Mexico, Brazil, and elsewhere have struggled to get production started or sustained. Janssen’s vaccine has also experienced setbacks, including the temporary…
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CAN THE TRIPS WAIVER SAVE THE WORLD?

CAN THE TRIPS WAIVER SAVE THE WORLD?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Friday, May 7, 2021 High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.9 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 718 million Low-income country total: 270 million COVAX total: 1.62 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 9.1 billion doses INSIGHTS Can the TRIPS waiver save the world? Author: Andrea Taylor The US threw its weight into the ring on the side of the TRIPS waiver this week, surprising many. There is still a long road ahead for the waiver, which much be agreed through discussion and consensus. With vocal opponents (including Germany), this is unlikely to happen before December. But if it does go through and intellectual property (IP) protections are waived, will it make a difference? The short answer is maybe, but not this year. The TRIPS waiver…
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THREE REFLECTIONS FROM A WILD WEEK

THREE REFLECTIONS FROM A WILD WEEK

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Monday, May 3, 2021 High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.9 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 718 million Low-income country total: 270 million COVAX total: 1.62 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 9.1 billion doses INSIGHTS Can the TRIPS waiver save the world? Author: Andrea Taylor The US threw its weight into the ring on the side of the TRIPS waiver this week, surprising many. There is still a long road ahead for the waiver, which much be agreed through discussion and consensus. With vocal opponents (including Germany), this is unlikely to happen before December. But if it does go through and intellectual property (IP) protections are waived, will it make a difference? The short answer is maybe, but not this year. The TRIPS waiver…
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WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN ONE YEAR OF COVAX?

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN ONE YEAR OF COVAX?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Friday, April 23, 2021 High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.7 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 732 million Low-income country total: 770 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 8.9 billion doses INSIGHTS What have we learned in one year of COVAX? Author: Andrea Taylor Launched as a global cross-organization collaboration only one month after the pandemic was declared, COVAX was built to facilitate global equity in the pandemic response. As COVAX passes the one-year mark this month, there are some early lessons and insights that can inform its further development and help us prepare for future crises. In terms of numbers, COVAX is short of the mark. Photo ops of government officials on the tarmac to…
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THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVALS

THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVALS

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Friday, April 16, 2021 High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.7 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 731 million Low-income country total: 770 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 8.9 billion doses INSIGHTS The global picture of Covid-19 vaccine approvals Author: Blen Biru COVID-19 vaccines across the world have been produced and authorized for use with record speed. So far, 13 vaccines have received either limited or full regulatory approval. It’s important to note that the safety of the vaccines is continuously monitored even after limited and full regulatory approvals are granted. The recent post-approval regulatory revisions and suspensions of Oxford-AstraZeneca and J&J demonstrate the continuous monitoring efforts by regulatory bodies. To highlight the importance of regulatory…
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WILL CHICKEN EGGS CHANGE THE COVID-19 VACCINE LANDSCAPE?

WILL CHICKEN EGGS CHANGE THE COVID-19 VACCINE LANDSCAPE?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE Friday, April 9, 2021 High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.6 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 721 million Low-income country total: 770 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 8.8 billion doses WEEKLY INSIGHTS Will chicken eggs change the Covid-19 vaccine landscape? Author: Andrea Taylor A promising new vaccine candidate is getting a flurry of attention this week, even in a very crowded landscape that includes 11 vaccines on the market and 50+ more in Phase 2 or 3 trials. The newcomer NDV-HXP-S vaccine, developed through collaborations between researchers at University of Texas at Austin, PATH, and Mount Sinai, among others, is a mouthful to say but the name captures the two reasons people are excited about it. NDV refers to the…
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THE CURIOUS CASE OF UPPER-MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES

THE CURIOUS CASE OF UPPER-MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE FRIDAY, April 2, 2021 Data Updates High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.6 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 691 million Low-income country total: 670 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 8.6 billion doses Weekly Insights and Interesting Trends The curious case of upper-middle income countries Author: Andrea Taylor The global imbalance in Covid-19 vaccines is often framed in terms of wealthy versus poor countries. While it can be summed that way (wealthy countries do have the majority of doses, while low-income countries have almost none), this overlooks the experience of upper-middle income countries (UMICs), such as Brazil, Indonesia, and China. The challenges faced by UMICs are different than those faced by lower-middle and low-income countries. They…
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WILL INDIA’S EXPORT CONTROLS DOOM SUPPLY FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES?

WILL INDIA’S EXPORT CONTROLS DOOM SUPPLY FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 Data Updates High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.6 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.5 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 711 million Low-income country total: 670 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 8.6 billion doses Weekly Insights and Interesting Trends Will India’s export controls doom supply for low- and middle-income countries? Author: Andrea Taylor India’s announcement this week that it would halt exports of domestically produced Covid-19 vaccines in the short term seemed to take the world by surprise. It probably shouldn’t have. For months, India’s Covid-19 cases appeared to plateau. As wealthier countries dithered about donations and paused exports, India led the way on donations and was lauded for their significant part in supplying COVAX and lower-income countries. The Serum Institute of India…
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WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CANADA?

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CANADA?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021 Data Updates Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines:  8.5 billion doses  High-income countries: 4.6 billion doses Upper-middle-income countries: 1.5 billion doses Lower-middle-income countries: 614 million Low-income countries: 670 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion  Weekly Insights and Interesting Trends Author: Andrea Taylor What is going on with Canada?  Canada followed the same vaccine procurement playbook as its wealthy peers, making early advance market purchases across a broad range of Covid-19 vaccine candidates. Between August and October 2020, Canada purchased doses from Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen (J&J), Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sanofi-GSK, and Medicago (a domestic company). In January, they added Novavax. With 500% coverage in confirmed purchases (going up to 600% when optioned doses are included), Canada defines the top of our population coverage graph.   But as we have seen over the past few months, vaccine purchases, vaccine deliveries, and vaccinations do not always track…
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COVID-19 VACCINES ARE FLOWING INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EQUITY?

COVID-19 VACCINES ARE FLOWING INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EQUITY?

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WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 Data Updates High-income country confirmed dose total: 4.6 billion Upper-middle-income country total: 1.3 billion Lower-middle-income country total: 608 million Low-income country total: 670 million COVAX total: 1.12 billion Total worldwide confirmed purchases of Covid-19 vaccines: 14.7 billion doses Weekly Insights and Interesting Trends Author: Andrea Taylor COVID-19 vaccines are flowing into the private sector. What does this mean for equity? While the vast majority of Covid-19 purchases have been through the public sector, we have also seen some private sector deals. This appears to be increasing recently, as governments are partnering with private sector health providers to widen the reach of their vaccine rollouts. Back in 2020, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) was selling Sputnik V to private companies and…
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