AstraZeneca Plc (STO:AZN) (LON:AZN), a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, said on Thursday that its advancing its ongoing response to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral organisations to make the University of Oxford's vaccine widely accessible around the world in an equitable manner.

The company has concluded the first agreements for at least 400 million doses and has secured total manufacturing capacity for one billion doses so far, with the first deliveries beginning in September 2020.

AstraZeneca aims to conclude further agreements supported by several parallel supply chains, which will expand capacity further over the next months to ensure the delivery of a globally accessible vaccine.

On 21 May 2020 AstraZeneca received support of more than USD1bn from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development, production and delivery of the vaccine, starting in autumn 2020. This development programme includes a phase III clinical trial with 30,000 participants and a paediatric trial.

In addition, the company is engaging with international organisations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the fair allocation and distribution of the vaccine around the world.

AstraZeneca is also in discussions with governments around the world to increase access and is in discussions with the Serum Institute of India and other potential partners to increase production and distribution.

According to AstraZeneca, it recently joined forces with the UK Government to support Oxford University's vaccine and has progressed rapidly in its efforts to expand access around the world. The company will supply the UK starting in September 2020.

The company clarified that this announcement is not anticipated to have any significant impact on its financial guidance for 2020, with expenses to progress the vaccine anticipated to be offset by funding by governments.