[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. multinational pharmaceutical company Merck is assisting Johnson & Johnson in producing its COVID-19 vaccine. This move comes as the White House stepped in due to Johnson & Johnson's vaccine production falling behind schedule.
According to major foreign media reports, U.S. President Joe Biden announced this during a White House speech on the 2nd (local time). White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that the U.S. plans to invoke the Defense Production Act to have Merck assist in Johnson & Johnson's vaccine production.
Merck plans to produce Johnson & Johnson vaccines at two production facilities within the United States. One facility will handle the final stage of production, where the vaccine substance is filled into vials and packaged, while the other will directly produce the vaccine to increase supply speed.
The Washington Post, which first reported on the production cooperation between Merck and Johnson & Johnson, described the collaboration between competitors as an "unprecedented sight." With Merck, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, joining forces with Johnson & Johnson, the acceleration of securing COVID-19 vaccine supplies is expected.
An anonymous government official explained in an interview with The Washington Post, "The Biden administration has been working to find additional production facilities since the first day of the administration after realizing Johnson & Johnson was lagging in vaccine production."
Meanwhile, Merck also attempted to develop a COVID-19 vaccine last year but halted the effort on January 25th after Phase 1 clinical trial results showed insufficient antibody production.
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