Partnership would bypass drug industry to sell COVID-19 vaccine

A partnership that would bypass the drug industry to sell a potential vaccine against the new coronavirus has been formed by a laboratory at Imperial College London.

The move would mean the vaccine could be sold without profits or licensing fees in Britain and in low- and middle-income countries, The New York Times reported. To be successful, a vaccine against the new coronavirus would have to be available at the lowest possible price and according to need rather than profit.

The Imperial College London lab has technology that may enable it to create a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to produce than others, said project lead scientist Robin Shattock, The Times reported.

Clinical trials of the vaccine are scheduled to start this month. If it proves safe and effective, the vaccine could become available early next year.