Wockhardt gets extension for its Covid-19 vaccines supply deal with the UK

INDIAN pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant Wockhardt on Wednesday(10) said that it has been awarded a six-month extension for its agreement with the UK government to fill-finish Covid-19 vaccines.

This expands the original agreement until August 2022, and the manufacturing will continue to be undertaken at the company's North Wales-based subsidiary CP Pharmaceuticals, the company said.

UK business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the extension of the Wockhardt deal will ensure uninterrupted fill and finish capacity for the UK.

"By extending our contract with Wockhardt, we will ensure the UK has uninterrupted fill and finish capacity, guaranteeing we have sufficient supplies to protect the British public in the long term," he said.

Wockhardt Group founder chairman Habil Khorakiwala said: "We are happy to extend our collaboration with the UK Government to make vaccines available and the arrangement brings in a huge sense of purpose and pride, it upholds our ongoing global commitment to fight against an unprecedented pandemic."

Following the visit of UK international trade secretary Liz Truss to India earlier this week, Wockhardt announced further investment in Wrexham, Wales, leading to more than 40 new jobs.

"It brings important investment to the local area, bringing jobs and security to the community as we battle this awful pandemic. Wockhardt's investment shows the strength of our trading ties with India which is a further boost to our already-strong vaccine supply as we build back stronger from coronavirus", Truss said about the investment.

Wockhardt in August 2020 had said in a regulatory filing that it had entered into an agreement with the UK government to fill-finish the Covid-19 vaccines.

On Tuesday(9), Indian IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also announced to bring 1,500 high-skilled jobs to the UK.

The UK-India trade relationship, worth £23 billion in 2019,

supports industries such as technology and life sciences and

around half a million jobs in each other’s economies. Life sciences

has been a priority sector for both nations.

UK pharmaceuticals exports to India increased by 21.4 per cent to £96.75m in 2019.

During the pandemic, India and the UK kept vital supply chains open, including on vaccine research and the export of nearly three million packets of paracetamol. In 2019-2020, the UK was the largest European market for India’s goods exports.