Healthcare services provider Zuellig Pharma said it looks forward to securing the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Covid-19 vaccine of American drug firm Moderna from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Zuellig Pharma filed the application for EUA as it was authorized by Moderna as the emergency use authorization holder and distributor of its vaccine in the Philippines.
Moderna has forged a partnership with Zuellig Pharma’s division, ZP Therapeutics, to supply the Covid-19 vaccine in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Moderna earlier announced that the Philippines has secured 20 million doses of their Covid-19 Vaccine. Deliveries will begin in mid-2021. The FDA said the company has applied for an EUA on April 26.
“We have filed the EUA application with all required documents,” said Raymund Azurin, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Sustainability of Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific.
Moderna’s application for an EUA, according to National Task Force against Covid-19 and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., will bring the Philippines a step closer to its goal of vaccinating 70 million of its adult population this year.
“We welcome the EUA application of Moderna, following the signing of the tripartite agreement with the private sector. We know the FDA Phillipines will give it urgent attention.”
Moderna’s mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 has been approved for emergency use in the United States, Canada, Israel, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Qatar, Singapore and Taiwan.
Collaboration
Meanwhile, Zuellig Pharma said its collaboration with Moderna to supply the Covid-19 vaccine in Asia reaffirms Zuellig Pharma’s commitment to help fight the global pandemic.
“We are committed to making healthcare accessible through innovation, commercial excellence and robust in-market capabilities that will not only improve healthcare but will expand patient access,” said John Graham, CEO of Zuellig Pharma.
“We are drawing upon our expertise, resources, and extensive distribution network to support governments and where allowed private healthcare institutions across the region in implementing end-to-end vaccination programs. As importantly, we are working closely with governments to help them plan for the security of their vaccine supply.”
For his part, Azurin said, “Throughout our history, Zuellig Pharma’s mission has been to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve, and this goal has become even more important during the coronavirus pandemic.”
“We welcome this partnership with Moderna to bring their mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine and its potential benefits to the Philippines and the rest of the Asia region.”
Zuellig Pharma is one of the largest healthcare services groups in Asia. It provides world-class distribution, digital and commercial services to over 350,000 medical facilities and its more than 1,000 clients, which include the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.