In this photo illustration, the covid-19 vaccine can be seen with the AstraZeneca logo in the background. (Photo illustration by Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca The company said on Wednesday it plans to withdraw its Covid-19 vaccine due to falling demand.
The so-called Vaxzevria vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, was one of the first vaccines against Covid-19 to hit the market during the coronavirus pandemic, with millions of people around the world having received it.
The UK was the first country to roll out the vaccine in January 2021, about a year after the World Health Organization first introduced it Characterized Covid-19 breaks out into a pandemic.
AstraZeneca said in a statement that demand for the Vaxzevria vaccine has decreased as new vaccines become available that target specific coronavirus variants.
“As multiple variants of COVID-19 vaccines are developed, there is a glut of newer vaccines available. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzervria, which is no longer produced or available,” the statement read.
AstraZeneca said it will now work with regulators and partners to chart a path forward.
It turned out to be voluntary withdraw its marketing authorization The EU previously allowed it to promote the vaccine in March 2024.
Although AstraZeneca’s vaccine is considered safe and effective, it has at times raised concerns about its side effects, particularly after a very small number of people developed blood clots related to the vaccine. A British study found that although they are “rare” they can be “devastating”.
The drugmaker said Wednesday it was “extremely proud” of the vaccine’s role during the pandemic.
“According to independent estimates, more than 6.5 million lives have been saved in the first year of use alone, and more than 3 billion vaccine doses have been supplied globally,” the statement read.
“Our efforts have been recognized by governments around the world and are widely recognized as a critical component in ending the global pandemic.”
In addition to its COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca is also working on treatments for a range of other diseases, including cancer. The company said in March it would acquire Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in cancer treatments.
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