Europe approves Merck plant to manufacture J&J COVID-19 vaccine

Oct. 7 (Reuters) – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Thursday that it has approved the manufacturing site of US drug maker Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) in West Point, Pa., To manufacture Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this year, Merck agreed to take the shot at its rival, after dropping two of its own experimental COVID-19 vaccines. Read more

The then US government used the Defense Production Act to help equip two Merck factories to make the J&J vaccine.

The EMA said the Merck site, which would become operational immediately, must support the continued supply of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union.

Report by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli

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