CSL secures agreements to help provide promising COVID-19 vaccines to Australians

The Australian company that developed vaccines for the Spanish flu and swine flu will help to fast-track two potential COVID-19 cures.

One of Australia’s leading biotechnology companies has secured agreements to manufacture two promising COVOID-19 vaccines

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange on Monday morning, medical group CSL said it would manufacturer and supply Australians with two potential vaccines by the start of next year.

CSL has entered into agreement with AstraZeneca for the manufacture of 30 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine candidate, which is scheduled to be released early 2021 if clinical trials are successful.

One of Australia’s leading biotechnology companies has secured agreements to manufacture two promising vaccines. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

In a seperate agreement with the Australian Government, CSL will supply 51 million doses of the University of Queensland vaccine to Australia. It is expected to be made readily available by mid-2021.

The agreements will provide Australians with the choice of two potential vaccines that could return the nation to normal living conditions in the coming 12 months.

CSL chief executive Paul Perreault said late-stage clinical trials for the University of Queensland vaccine had begun.

“The social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a high level of urgency to the task of developing a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus) and to manufacture a successful vaccine at high quality and in sufficient quantities,” he said.

CSL CEO Paul Perreault hopes to have a COVID-19 vaccine by next year. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said the agreement had been able to accelerate the timeline.

CSL is one of the only companies in Australia that has the capability of manufacturing a potential vaccine.

The major medical therapeutics company has previously produced successful vaccines for the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic and more recently a 2009 vaccine to combat the swine flu breakout.

“While there are still a number of milestones to be met, we are hopeful that by next year

we’ll be in the fortunate position of having a vaccine candidate to support Australia and

the world’s emergence from this crisis,” Mr Perreault said.