Sanofi’s CEO, Paul Hudson said that the US will get first access to its COVID-19 vaccine, and once ready, its vaccine will be available in all countries.
“The US government has the right to the largest pre-order because it’s invested in taking the risk,” he said. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has funded the development of the vaccine.
“Equal access for all to the vaccine is not negotiable,” said Edouard Philippe, French Prime Minister in a tweet.
Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Junior Economy Minister of France said, “To us, it would be unacceptable that a country would get privileged access under the pretext of money reasons.”
After receiving backlash for it’s statement, Sanofi informed, “We have always been committed in these unprecedented circumstances to make our vaccine accessible to everyone.”
About Sanofi:
Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical headquartered in Paris, France as of 2013 the world's fifth-largest by prescription sales. Originally, the company was formed in 1973 and the current incarnation was formed as Sanofi-Aventis in 2004, by the merger of Aventis and Sanofi-Synthélabo, which were each the product of several previous mergers. It changed its name to Sanofi in May 2011.