The syringes are seen in front of a Biontech logo displayed in this illustration made on November 10, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
China plans to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by German company BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) by July, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
If approved, it would become the first foreign COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized in the country.
Chinese officials are analyzing data from clinical trials for the vaccine and expect to authorize it for home use in the next 10 weeks, the report said.
BioNTech said in a statement that it does not speculate on the timing of the approvals.
China’s National Health Commission and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., which signed a potential supply contract with the German doctor in August for the vaccine, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. (https://reut.rs/2Q8psHJ)
The vaccine, developed in collaboration with Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N), is already approved in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel.
US-listed shares of BioNTech rose 3.3% on Friday to $ 145.4.
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