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Mumbai based Wockhardt, the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology major has announced that it has entered into an agreement with the UK Government to fill-finish COVID-19 vaccines. The manufacturing will be undertaken at CP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Wockhardt based in Wrexham, North Wales.
As per the terms of the agreement the company has reserved manufacturing capacity to allow for the supply of multiple vaccines to the UK Government in its fight against COVID19, including AZD1222, the vaccine co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spinout company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca.
Dr. Habil Khorakiwala, Founder Chairman of Wockhardt emphasized, “The pandemic of COVID-19 is a challenge for all and needs a concerted effort to overcome. We are proud to be collaborating with the UK Government to make vaccines available and the arrangement brings in a huge sense of purpose and pride, it upholds our ongoing commitment to fighting against such a pandemic of global human importance. As a global organization, we are focussed and committed to assisting in mitigating the worldwide impact of COVID-19.”
The government has reserved one fill and finish production line for its exclusive use for the next 18 months in order to guarantee the supply of vaccines required to fight COVID-19 in the UK. In the UK, Wockhardt is one of the largest suppliers in the NHS for over 20 years, has had a presence in Wrexham for over two decades, and employs over 400 people at its 612,000 square feet high-tech manufacturing facility.
