NASDAQ-LISTED Moderna Inc, a biotech company that pioneers messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, have inked a partnership with ZP Therapeutics, a division of Zuellig Pharma, the leading healthcare services provider in Asia, to supply the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The alliance is seen as a significant step in expanding access to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine across Malaysia, according to ZP Therapeutics Malaysia head Jeff Nardo.
“We look forward to working closely with the various public and private stakeholders to bring the vaccine to where it is needed most, quickly and efficiently,” Nardo pointed out.
This latest development is enough to spark speculation that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ‘may seek entry’ and eventually be the fourth vaccine to be approved the Malaysian health authorities.
In early February, the Moderna CVOID-19 vaccine has won approval from Singapore with the company further singing a deal to sell doses to the Philippines, thus becoming the fourth supplier to get regulatory clearance in Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, the COVID-19 vaccines are thus far procured by the Government and administered for free to the public. The regulators have already approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, China’s Sinovac and Britain’s AstraZeneca.
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.
Meanwhile, Zuellig Pharma’s CEO John Graham said the company’s collaboration with Moderna to supply the Moderna vaccine in Asia reaffirms the company’s commitment to help fight the global pandemic.
“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 programmes,” Graham pointed out.
“As importantly, we are working closely with governments to help them plan for the security of their vaccine supply.” – April 28, 2021
