Hyd-based Bharat Biotech to supply 20 million `Covaxin' doses to Brazil

Hyderabad: Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech has signed an agreement with Brazil for the supply of 20 million `Covaxin' doses.The deliveries are expected to begin from next March.The deal would be a shot in the arm for Bharat Biotech, which is looking for markets beyond India for its vaccine.

https://twitter.com/BharatBiotech/status/1365360001770876931?s=20

The Brazil government will buy the vaccine for public use, while the private market will get it once it is approved by ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory authority.

"The company is delighted to partner with Brazil in its battle against COVID-19 and aid its immunization programme against the virus. There is a strong interest in Covaxin from many countries around the world. The company is fully committed to ensuring supplies promptly and efficiently," Bharat Biotech said in a statement.

Earlier, Bharat Biotech had said it signed an agreement with Brazil-based Precisa Medicamentos for supplying Covaxin to private players in the South American country.

Covaxin is given restricted emergency use in India under the clinical trial mode, as Bharat Biotech is yet to submit the Phase-3 efficacy data.

In India, Bharat Biotech is supplying Covaxin to the government at Rs 295 per dose excluding taxes.

The company said it will be coming up with Phase-3 efficacy data by the second week of March. It is ramping capacities to 40 million doses, with its third facility entering production.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian administration said the first 8 million Covaxin shots will arrive in March. The second batch of 8 million doses is expected to reach by April. In May, another 4 million doses will be made available.

So far Brazil has vaccinated less than 4 percent of its population of 210 million people, with some cities stopping the immunization campaign last week due to shortages. Brazil has so far recorded 250,000 deaths due to COVID-19.