U.S. Set To Approve 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine As FDA Considers Moderna Candidate; Questions Remain Over Production Meeting Demand

Financial Times: Moderna Covid vaccine set to receive U.S. approval
“The U.S. drugs regulator will grant emergency approval to a second coronavirus vaccine in the coming days, a decision that will make it the first country to have authorized two inoculations against the virus…” (Stacey/Kuchler, 12/17).

NBC News: FDA advisers recommend Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, bringing second vaccine closer to reality
“…Members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 20 to 0 in favor of recommending authorization, with one abstention. The FDA is expected to agree with the committee’s recommendation, and an emergency use authorization could come as soon as Thursday evening or Friday…” (Edwards, 12/17).

NPR: How Will Moderna Meet The Demand For Its COVID-19 Vaccine?
“…[C]ompared with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which was granted emergency use authorization last week, upstart Moderna doesn’t have a track record when it comes to mass production…” (Lupkin, 12/17).

POLITICO: Upstart Moderna takes on outsized role in U.S. vaccine effort
“…[W]hile the maker of the first authorized shot, Pfizer, is a global pharmaceutical giant that has pumped out dozens of blockbusters including Viagra and even ChapStick, Moderna had never had a vaccine reach late-stage trials before it became the first of dozens of coronavirus vaccine hopefuls to hit that milestone this summer. Now the 10-year-old Massachusetts biotech is the cornerstone of the United States’ strategy to defeat a virus that has killed more than 308,000 Americans so far…” (Owermohle, 12/17).

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