Astra CEO says currently in process of securing SFDA approval on Moderna vaccine

Logo of Astra Industrial

Astra Industrial Group is currently in the process of obtaining the approval of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Moderna vaccine, Al Arabiya reported, citing chief executive officer (CEO), Mohammad Al Hagbani.

“Once approved, the vaccine will be available in the Kingdom,” Al Hagbani said.

The vaccine’s local production will come as a second step, since establishing a manufacturing facility while obtaining the required licenses will take a long time. Meanwhile, the Kingdom seeks to accelerate the vaccination campaign strategy.

However, Astra’s strategy still mulls manufacturing vaccines and other drugs locally, the CEO noted.

Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co., Astra’s wholly- owned subsidiary, signed on June 13, an agreement with Nasdaq-listed Moderna, to commercialize the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and future variant-specific booster candidates in Saudi Arabia.

Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing was established in 1994 to produce, market and distribute various pharmaceutical products, Argaam reported.

SFDA has so far approved AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.