Business Wars Vaccine Wars | Long Shot | 3
Apr 26, 2021
In February 2020, the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine heats up, with Moderna pushing ahead to start human trials. Tension mounts as they prepare their first batch for safe transport amid the pandemic chaos. The podcast dives into the fierce competition among pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and BioNTech, highlighting their strategic partnerships and the immense pressure to succeed. Listeners discover the intricate decisions facing these key players as they navigate the urgent global health crisis.
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Moderna's First Shipment
- Moderna shipped its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine for human trials.
- Juan Andres, Head of Operations, ensured the safe transit of the temperature-sensitive mRNA doses.
Pfizer and BioNTech Partnership
- Pfizer's Katherine Janssen and BioNTech's Ugur Sahin discussed a potential partnership after the first COVID-19 cases appeared in New York.
- BioNTech, needing a larger partner, offered Pfizer shared development with upfront cost coverage.
Moderna at the White House
- At a White House task force meeting, Moderna's CEO, Stephane Bancel, highlighted their rapid vaccine development.
- Bancel emphasized their 42-day turnaround from virus sequencing to human trials, positioning Moderna as a frontrunner.