Imperial College London is setting up a new enterprise to distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine at a lower price.
The British university, together with partner Morningside Ventures, will waive royalties and charge only “modest, cost-plus prices” to sustain the enterprise’s work, it said on Sunday.
The enterprise will be called VacEquity Global Health.
Another company, VaXEquity, is also being launched to accelerate production of the vaccine.
“These new enterprises are the most effective way for us to deliver Covid-19 vaccines quickly, cheaply and internationally, while preparing for future pandemics,” said Professor Robin Shattock, head of infection and immunity at Imperial and co-founder of the two companies.
Imperial College says it has received more than £40 million (Dh186.3m/$50.7m) of public money to develop the coronavirus vaccine, and £5m from donors.
The vaccine is to enter a new phase of human trials on June 15.
Addressing the Global Vaccine Summit last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “people’s vaccine”.
Leaders from 50 countries met in London and raised $8.8bn in additional funds at a pledging conference organised by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, on Thursday.
At the meeting, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for a "new era of global health co-operation" to "unite humanity in the fight against disease", particularly in the poorest countries.
Since it began spreading in China late last year, the coronavirus has infected nearly 7 million people, killed more than 400,000 and wreaked havoc on the global economy by forcing millions to stay inside their homes.
_______________
-
A healthcare worker speaks to a resident about Covid-19 at a check up camp in Dharavi, one of Asia's largest slums, Mumbai, India. Reuters -
Fans of Bohemians Prague stand on ladders as they prepare to watch the Czech first league soccer match between Bohemians Prague and Sparta Prague behind fence in Prague, Czech. EPA -
A Christian priest cleans the church area as places of worship were allowed to re-open with strict guidelines from 8 June, in, Bhopal, India. EPA -
An employee wearing a protective face mask checks the temperature of a visitor at the entrance at a restaurant along a pedestrian street in central Tbilisi. Cafes and restaurants re-opened in Georgia's capital last week. AFP -
Hostlers and horse coaches wear face masks as they practice social distancing during a horse race at Beirut Hippodrome, as Lebanon re-opened its horse racing tracks, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters -
Musicians perform next to Spanish artist Diego Velazquez's paintings as the Prado museum reopens in Madrid, Spain. Reuters -
People enjoy a water slide in Yongin, South Korea. Reuters -
A nurse works at the Intensive Care Unit ward where patients infected with coronavirus are being treated at the Doctor Ernesto Che Guevara Public Hospital in Marica city, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP -
A man has his temperature checked at the entrance of the Nizamiye Mosque ahead of the Friday prayer in Midrand, Johannesburg. AFP
