Germany invests in local pharmaceuticals to boost Covid-19 vaccine

Germany has invested in domestic pharmaceutical companies taking a stake in the global race for a coronavirus vaccine.

German Science and Education Minister Anja Karliczek in Berlin, Germany on September 15, 2020.
AFP

German Science and Education Minister Anja Karliczek in Berlin, Germany on September 15, 2020.

Germany has said it is providing up to $892 million (750 million euros) to support three domestic pharmaceutical companies that are developing vaccines against the new coronavirus.

Science Minister Anja Karliczek that the government has already agreed to provide BioNTech and CureVac with 375 million euros and 230-million euros respectively to develop their mRNA-based vaccines.

Talks with a third company, IDT Biologika, are expected to conclude soon, she said on Tuesday. The company is developing a vector-based vaccine that delivers a coronavirus protein into cells to stimulate the body’s immune response.

READ MORE: Germany leads European race to ensure fair access to Covid-19 vaccine

The agreement with the three companies, which is tied to specific milestones, would guarantee Germany 40 million doses of vaccine. The amount comes on top of other vaccine supply agreements concluded through the European Union, of which Germany is a member.

Karliczek said Germany wouldn't cut corners when it comes to testing vaccines, meaning most of the population may have to wait until mid-2021 to be inoculated.

“Safety is an absolute priority,” she said.

READ MORE: German company begins testing possible Covid-19 vaccine

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Health Minister Jens Spahn echoed that stance, saying that only vaccines which have been tested on "thousands, ideally many thousands of volunteers in phase 3” would be approved.

Spahn complained that reports from Russia and China about vaccines being developed in the two countries “aren't always such that one feels there's absolute transparency.”

Spahn dismissed suggestions that Germany might consider making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory.

“We need 55-60 percent of the population to be vaccinated," he said. “I’m firmly convinced we will achieve this voluntarily.”

Spahn added that Germany also doesn't intend to hoard vaccines.

“I'm happy to give other countries in the world some of the vaccines we're been contractually assured," he said, "if we find in the end that we have more than we need.”

READ MORE: Germany to start first clinical tests on virus vaccine

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