PHARMANIAGA Bhd is expecting Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to approve the Coronavac Covid-19 vaccine by end of February or early March.

The pharmaceutical group’s subsidiary Pharmaniaga Lifescience Sdn Bhd will carry out the fill and finish process at its high-tech plant for two million doses of the vaccine produced by China-based Sinovac Life Science Co Ltd. 

The deal also includes a vaccine technology transfer.

The group’s managing director Zulkarnain Md Eusope said in an online media briefing today the application was submitted on January 19, and the process is expected to take between three weeks to a month to conclude.

He added that the company is looking to begin supplying the vaccine after receiving approval from NPRA. This is likely to be in March at the earliest, or in April at the latest.

“The first month will see around one million doses supplied, and around two million doses a month subsequently,” he told reporters.

He said the company is also well prepared logistically to transport the vaccine nationwide. The vaccine requires a storage temperature of between two and eight degrees Celsius.

Talks with private sector

Zulkarnain said there are two million doses in excess, in addition to the 12 million dosses it has committed to the government.

He said the group will look into supplying the extra doses to “economic front-liners” such as government-linked companies and subsequently expatriates.

“This is an area we are looking at and we are collating information. Once we have collated enough information we will again discuss with the government on how to implement supply to the private sector, economic front-liners, expatriates and foreign workers,” he said.

Zulkarnain was responding to queries on whether the group is looking at selling the vaccines to the private sector to inoculate employees.

He said priority will be to supply the 12 million doses to Malaysians as per the company’s commitment. The vaccine will be administered to citizens by the government, free of charge.

Putrajaya has committed RM2.05 billionfor the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, which includes deals with Covax, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Russia’s Gamaleya National Centre, among others. – February 2, 2021.