IDT Biologika To Make J&J's COVID-19 Vaccine Using Takeda's Manufacturing Capacity

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd TAK has signed an agreement with Germany-based contract manufacturer IDT Biologika GmbH to make Johnson & Johnson’s JNJ single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

• Under the contract, the capacity at IDT’s Dessau site, previously reserved to make Takeda’s dengue vaccine candidate, will be used to make J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine for worldwide distribution.
• After three months, the capacity will be returned to Takeda to resume manufacturing for its dengue vaccine’s planned launch.
• This year, Merck & Co MRK and Sanofi SA SNY agreed to help make J&J’s vaccine.
• Takeda is handling the Japanese approval process, import, and distribution of coronavirus vaccines from Moderna Inc MRNA and Novavax Inc NVAX.
• IDT is already producing AstraZeneca Plc’s AZN COVID-19 vaccine.
• Price Action: TAK shares are trading 2.25% higher at 18.85, and JNJ shares are up 0.41% at $160.25 in market trading hours on the last check Monday.