Texas Border Business
Companies large and small, domestically and around the world, are devoting every resource to the discovery of a viable COVID-19 vaccine. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 102 vaccine candidates in the pre-clinical stage of development; 8 vaccine candidates have reached the clinical stage of development, meaning human testing has already begun to assess safety and efficacy.
Last week, Moderna received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be become the second company to begin a Phase II COVID-19 vaccine trial. Just yesterday, Moderna received Fast Track designation from the FDA to help expedite the development and review of its potential vaccine.
The speed at which these innovators are working to develop and test vaccines is unprecedented. But perhaps even more unprecedented than this speed: the ongoing scale-ups of manufacturing in preparation to inoculate millions of people in need.
Pfizer and BioNTech began clinical trials in the U.S. last week for one of the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Even before the vaccine completes clinical trials, Pfizer is bolstering their manufacturing capacity to deliver millions of vaccine doses by the end of 2020. In 2021, they will increase that capacity to deliver hundreds of millions of them. That kind of supply helps ensure broad access, bringing us one step closer to the herd immunity we need to control this virus for good.
It is worth noting: all of this investment in research and development is being made at risk. No one knows which vaccine candidates will be successful, and which ones will fail. That basic fact underscores the foundation of the life sciences community: A spirit of innovation coupled with a drive to serve patients and improve global health. It is clear that foundation is stronger than ever.
—Jonathan Weinberger, Executive Vice President, Global Innovation Policy Center
