New-York based COVID-19 vaccine developer COVAXX has entered a global logistics partnership with MAERSK, with the goal of bringing the vaccine to emerging and developing nations.
The agreement with COVAXX lays out a framework for all transportation and supply chain services that will be needed to deliver its vaccine “candidate” around the world, once approved by regulatory authorities.
The partnership aims to distribute up to a billion doses of the COVAXX synthetic vaccine worldwide in 2021.
The U.S. drug manufacturer is developing UB-612 , which is currently in its Phase 1 clinical trials in Taiwan. COVAXX also has an agreement with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to conduct Phase 2 trials in the United States, upon regulatory approval.
The company has advanced pre-commitments for over 100 million doses of UB-612 around the globe.
The agreement enables Maersk to oversee all logistics activities to ensure efficient transportation to developing countries. Additionally, it will provide for end-to-end supply chain management, packing and shipping, via air or ocean, ground transportation, warehouse storage and distribution to facilities to support COVAXX’s requirements for a pharmaceutical grade, temperature-controlled supply chain.
The design of the vaccine components will allow for the use of existing cold-chain storage and distribution channels, as the COVAXX vaccine does not require additional infrastructure such as -80⁰C freezers or liquid nitrogen tanks to store materials at extreme temperatures.
“The COVAXX vaccine is unique in that it can be stored in the fridge you have at home, moved in the same trucks that deliver groceries and administered anywhere you can get a flu shot,” said Lou Reese, Co-CEO,COVAXX.
According to COVAXX Co-CEO Mei Mei Hu, to do what is in the best interests of society at this time of the global health crisis, the company is aligning with the strongest leaders in their respective industries to meet the large-scale demand and compliance requirements that they expect.
“It is not enough to focus on vaccine development and approvals. We must work in parallel to establish the infrastructure and partners with the strongest capabilities, like Maersk, to safely deliver our vaccine around the world,” said Hu.
“Efficient and safe delivery of COVID-19 vaccines around the world is the most urgent logistics challenge we face today,” said Rob Townley, Head of Special Project Logistics at Maersk.
Townley stated that A. P. Moller – Maersk is committed to working closely with COVAXX to ensure smooth end-to-end global delivery of this vaccine as soon as it becomes available.