The Japanese Ministry of Health panel approves Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine

A vial and syringe appear in front of a certain Novavax logo in this illustration taken on January 11, 2021. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic

TOKYO, April 18 (Reuters) – A committee in the Japanese Ministry of Health said on Monday that it has approved Novavax Inc’s (NVAX.O) COVID-19 vaccine, sets the stage for full approval of the country’s fourth shot against coronavirus.

The Japanese government has agreed to purchase 150 million doses of Novavax’s recombinant protein-type vaccine to be manufactured on the domestic market by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. (4502).

Most of Japan’s COVID vaccinations have been performed using the mRNA types manufactured by Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O). Astrazeneca Plc’s (AZN.L) shot has also been approved, but most domestically produced supplies have not been used in Japan and instead donated abroad.

Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Edited by Toby Chopra and Hugh Lawson

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