GSK Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Production in England

London-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced today an agreement in principle with Maryland-based Novavax and the UK Government Vaccines Taskforce to support manufacturing of up to 60 million doses of the Novavax’ COVID-19 vaccine candidate (NVX-CoV2373) for use in the UK.

GSK stated it would provide ‘fill and finish’ manufacturing capacity at its Barnard Castle facility in the North East of England beginning as early as May 2021. To be provided by GSK, fill and finish is the completion stage of vaccine manufacturing, preparing vials of the final vaccine and packaging them for distribution and use.

The GSK site at Barnard Castle, which will deliver the vaccine doses under this collaboration, is a specialized facility in GSK’s global manufacturing network, supporting the production of GSK pharmaceutical and vaccine products.

The protein antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 is also produced in the North East of England by Novavax’s manufacturing partner, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, at their site in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees.

The Novavax vaccine candidate has demonstrated strong potential efficacy in Phase 3 clinical trials, including against the B.1.1.7 variant circulating in the UK. Submission of the vaccine for review by regulatory authorities in the UK is expected during the second quarter.

Roger Connor, President, GSK Vaccines, commented in a press release issued on March 29, 2021, “GSK is delighted to support Novavax and the UK Vaccines Taskforce with this manufacturing arrangement for the UK, and our Barnard Castle facility is now undertaking the rapid preparation work required to manufacture up to 60m doses of this vaccine. We have ensured that we can deliver these volumes without impacting the supply of our other vital medicines and vaccines, and without disruption, to the other COVID-19 collaborations GSK is engaged in globally.”

The UK Government previously secured 60 million doses of the vaccine under an advance purchase agreement with Novavax.

GSK is collaborating with several organizations worldwide on COVID-19 vaccines by providing access to our adjuvant technology.