Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereinafter, Daiichi Sankyo) is pleased  to announce that it recently entered into  an  outsourcing agreement with  AstraZeneca  K.K.  (hereinafter,  AstraZeneca)  to manufacture the  AstraZeneca-developed COVID-19  vaccine, AZD1222,  in  Japan.

In  order  to  play  a  part  in  the  COVID-19  vaccine  manufacturing and  supply  scheme  agreed upon  between AstraZeneca  and  the  government  of Japan,  Daiichi  Sankyo will  use  undiluted  solutions  provided  by  AstraZeneca  to  manufacture  COVID-19  vaccines  in  the  country,  including  vial  filling  and  packaging,  in  accordance with the outsourcing agreement.

The  manufacture  of  the COVID-19  vaccine, AZD1222,   will  be  undertaken  by  Daiichi  Sankyo  Biotech  Company, Limited,  a subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo, at a facility dedicated to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “project to establish a system for developing and producing novel influenza virus vaccines.”

As it strives to help restore safety and security in society through the early eradication of COVID-19, Daiichi Sankyo, in  addition  to  ensuring  the  stable  supply  of  the AstraZeneca COVID-19  vaccine  in  Japan, will continue to work to advance ongoing research and development of a Nafamostat inhalation formulation (DS-2319) as well as an mRNA vaccine (DS-5670)

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical therapies to improve standards of care and address diversified, unmet medical needs of people globally by leveraging our world-class science and technology. With more than 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 15,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for cardiovascular diseases, under the Group’s 2025 Vision to become a “Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology,” Daiichi Sankyo is primarily focused on providing novel therapies in oncology, as well as other research areas centred around rare diseases and immune disorders.