Astrazeneca ditches plan for US Covid jab

ASTRAZENECA has abandoned plans to seek approval for its Covid-19 jab in the United States as it revealed falling sales of the vaccine worldwide.

The Anglo-swedish group, which developed the Vaxzevria vaccine with Oxford University, revealed in its thirdquarter results that it would drop an application with America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and instead focus its efforts elsewhere globally, including for its use as a booster.

Astrazeneca’s results showed waning demand for its Covid jab – which was one of the first to be developed worldwide – with sales of Vaxzevria dropping to $173m (£152m) in the third quarter, down from $1bn a year earlier.

The vaccine was quickly approved for use in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, but not in the US, where regulators wanted more data.

Astrazeneca had planned to go for full approval from the FDA, but its chief executive said the application had become overly complicated.

The company said: “As the primary vaccination needs of the US are being met already, Astrazeneca has decided that it will not submit a biologics licence application for Vaxzevria in the US.

“The company will continue to focus its efforts on ensuring availability of Vaxzevria elsewhere around the world, including submissions for its use as a booster.”

Meanwhile, the company reported sales of $537m for its Evusheld drug, which is targeted at people with weakened immune systems, after gaining approval for emergency use in the US in December last year.

Astrazeneca’s results yesterday also showed the group increasing its earnings outlook because of a better-thanexpected performance so far this year.

The company said pre-tax profits jumped to $922m from losses of $2bn a year ago on sales of $11bn – 19pc higher than the same time last year.