TGA approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
Monday, 25 January, 2021
The Australian (TGA) has provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, COMIRNATY.
Following a thorough and independent review of Pfizer鈥檚 submission, the TGA has decided that this vaccine meets the high safety, efficacy and quality standards required for use in Australia. The provisional approval means that COMIRNATY is now included in the (ARTG) for active immunisation to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, in individuals 16 years of age and older.
Provisional approval of this vaccine is valid for two years and means it can now be legally supplied in Australia. The approval is subject to certain strict conditions, such as the requirement for Pfizer to continue providing information to the TGA on longer-term efficacy and safety from ongoing clinical trials and post-market assessment. COMIRNATY has been shown to prevent COVID-19; however, it is not yet known whether it prevents transmission or asymptomatic disease.
The distribution of the vaccine in Australia will be prioritised by the Department of Health according to the populations identified in guidance from the .
鈥淭oday鈥檚 provisional approval in Australia marks an historic moment in the fight against COVID-19,鈥 Pfizer Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Anne Harris said.
鈥淚t further affirms Pfizer鈥檚 commitment to deliver on its promise to safely bring to Australians a high-quality vaccine against this virus.
鈥淲e commend the TGA for its careful assessment of COMIRNATY. We thank both the Commonwealth Government and the Department of Health for their strong partnership to bring our vaccine to Australians.
鈥淲e are proud to be part of this breakthrough, which was made possible through unparalleled collaboration between companies, governments, regulators, public health bodies, and the academic and scientific communities coming together urgently to find solutions to the pandemic,鈥 Harris said.
Chief Business Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at BioNTech Sean Marett said, 鈥淚t is encouraging to see that our mRNA vaccine is now approved in Australia. The number of countries authorising the use of our vaccine is steadily increasing. This is important in order to support addressing this pandemic.
鈥淭ogether with our partner, Pfizer, we are looking forward to shipping the vaccines to Australia,鈥 Marrett said.
The TGA鈥檚 decision is based on a rolling submission including data from the phase 3 clinical study, which demonstrated a vaccine efficacy rate of 95% in participants without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (first primary objective), and also in participants with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (second primary objective).
The vaccine has now been granted a conditional marketing authorisation, emergency use authorisation, temporary authorisation or provisional approval in more than 50 countries.
Victoria's Q3 median ED wait times the lowest on record
Victoria's quarter three performance data (January–March) has shown improvement across...
Irregularities in a clinician's cases prompt 15-month lookback
St Vincent's 黑料吃瓜群网 Sydney has detailed a 15-month lookback review — prompted by...
Two researchers receive $899,000 in cardiovascular funding
In heart-related news this Heart Week (5–11 May), two University of Newcastle researchers...