Johnson & Johnson is partnering with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund $1 billion in COVID-19 vaccine research. Under this partnership, Johnson & Johnson and BARDA hope to supply more than one billion vaccines globally. The pharmaceutical giant hopes to start clinical trials no later than September and deliver vaccines to the public in early 2021.
Included in this partnership, the pharmaceutical company is committed to expand its manufacturing both domestically and globally to supply this vaccine. The belief is that expanded production will lead to wider availability and a more affordable vaccine.
Work on a vaccine began as early as January. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have worked together to find a lead COVID-19 vaccine and two possible back up vaccines. Meanwhile, Moderna Health believes that it can supply healthcare workers with a vaccine by this fall.
This news comes as the United States endured the most deadly day of the pandemic yet. In response, states across the country such as Virginia and Maryland have issued indefinite “stay at home” orders.
