Moderna has reached a $1.5 billion deal with the US to provide it with 100 million doses of its candidate COVID-19 vaccine, Bloomberg reports. It adds that the US has made similar deals with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson in a move to stockpile promising vaccine candidates
Moderna's investigational COVID-19 vaccine, dubbed mRNA-1273, began Phase III testing at the end of July. Previous testing has suggested the mRNA-based vaccine could trigger an immune response. Through this deal, Moderna is to manufacture doses of the vaccine as it undergoes additional testing.
Additionally, Reuters reports the vaccine would be priced at $30.50 per person for two doses, slightly lower than other deals. Through its $1.95 billion deal, Pfizer is to receive $20 a dose, according to Bloomberg, and Johnson & Johnson, meanwhile, inked a $1 billion deal to also provide 100 million doses.
Reuters further says this US deal could lead to Moderna making other agreements with other countries.