JNJ, EC Conclude Exploratory Talks Over Covid-19 Candidate

   By Stephen Nakrosis 
 

Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson on Thursday said it concluded exploratory talks with the European Commission which may lead to its Janssen Pharmaceutica NV providing its Covid-19 candidate to EU member states.

Johnson and Johnson said Janssen Pharmaceutica will now enter into contract talks with the European Commission, which could lead to it providing 200 million doses of Janssen's SARS-CoV-2 candidate, Ad26.COV2.S, with the possibility of another 200 million doses being purchased by the Commission.

"If regulatory approval for the company's vaccine is received, the Commission would be expected to facilitate a process for allocation of the vaccine doses among the member states," Johnson and Johnson said.

Paul Stoffels, the chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson, said, "We are deeply committed to providing global access to our SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. That's why, as we proceed with development of our vaccine, we are simultaneously working with partners around the world including the European Commission and Member States to help us reach that goal."

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

--Write to Stephen Nakrosis at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 13, 2020 13:40 ET (17:40 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.