AstraZeneca Applies for Vaccine Use Approval in Japan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca applied for manufacturing and sales approval (usage approval) of its COVID-19 vaccine to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on the 5th. AstraZeneca is the second company to apply for COVID-19 vaccine approval from Japanese health authorities, following Pfizer.

According to local media, the Japanese government has signed a contract with AstraZeneca to supply 120 million doses of the vaccine. The goal is to manufacture more than 90 million doses domestically in Japan.

AstraZeneca conducted clinical trials on 256 subjects in Japan last August. The key data being prepared is scheduled to be submitted to the relevant authorities in March.