Pfizer and BioNTech continue to add COVID-19 vaccine orders

A clearer picture of how supply deals are shaping up could emerge later this week as Pfizer releases its Q2 2021 results. At last count in mid-April, Pfizer and BioNTech had 1.6 billion doses of its mRNA vaccine on order for 2021, but acknowledged the figure could rise as more deals were put in place.

For Pfizer, the 2021 orders currently represent $26bn in revenue​​: but again that figure could rise in Wednesday's update if new orders are taken into account.

US agreement

The agreement with the US government, announced on Friday, will be provided under an existing supply agreement for 500 million doses. Delivery will start as soon as October: with 110 million of doses delivered by the end of this year, and the remaining 90 million doses to follow by the end of April 2022. The deal also includes an option cover an updated version of the vaccine to address potential variants and new formulations of the vaccine, if available and authorized.

Other deals for 2021 signed since mid-April include 40 million doses for the Philippines. A mega-order for 1.8 billion doses with the EU for 2021-2023 will also add onto 2021 orders, although the parties have not specified how many doses will come onto 2021’s order book and how many are for the following years.

In May, Pfizer and BioNTech expected total production capacity for 2021 will be 2.5 billion doses, thanks to the optimization of production processes and the initiation of production in Marburg, Germany, allowing it to accommodate new orders for 2021.

2022 and beyond

Looking past 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech have also been adding on supply deals around the world.  

Australia, which previously had a total of 40 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses on order for 2021 (enough to largely cover the population of 25 million people), yesterday announced a supply deal for 2022 and 2023 totalling 85 million doses focused as boosters. The first 60 million doses are scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2022, with the remaining 25 million doses expected in 2023.

Elsewhere, Pfizer has been adding deals with countries such as the UK (60 million doses with unspecified delivery date), Israel for 2022 (unspecified number of doses), and Canada for 2022-2023 (125 million doses).  

And vaccine manufacture in Africa is expected to start in 2022 thanks to a partnership with South African biopharma company Biovac, which could ultimately supply 100 million doses a year.