Merck & Co. Will Manufacture J&J Vaccine, Other COVID-19 Medicines Under BARDA Deal

US Government Will Fund Up To $268.8m In Production Site Upgrades

 
• By Mandy Jackson
  
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Broader than initially reported, Merck & Co.’s agreement with BARDA extends beyond J&J’s recently authorized vaccine to other COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics as needed.

Some ampoules with ncov-2019 vaccine in a box
Merck & Co. will provide additional COVID-19 vaccine and treatment manufacturing capacity in the US under a new BARDA deal • Source: Shutterstock

Under a deal brokered by President Biden’s administration, Merck & Co., Inc. will manufacture Johnson & Johnson’s newly authorized COVID-19 vaccine as well as other vaccines and therapeutics against the virus. The investment comes at a time Merck, a longtime leader in the vaccine space, was already intending to make capital investments in its vaccine manufacturing network.

The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) invoked the Defense Production Act to provide up to $268.8m, including...

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