Covid-19 vaccine prices differ up to 20 times

The expected price of a dose of Moderna's vaccine is 60 USD, while AstraZeneca's ranges from 3 to 5 USD.

The US biopharmaceutical company Moderna announced the expected price for its Covid-19 vaccine from 50 USD to 60 USD per injection, that is about 25-30 USD per shot . This price will apply to the US and some high-income countries that the company plans to prioritize.

The expected price is much higher than that of its rival, Pfizer. Last week, the drugmaker completed a pre-order deal with the US government, pledging to sell the vaccine for $19.50 a dose.

UK-based pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has signed a potential deal with the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy. The company's expected price for each dose of its vaccine is $3-4, according to calculations by Geoffrey Porges, a pharmaceutical analyst at investment bank SVB Leerink.

Moderna's numbers have raised concerns among public health experts. They also pose significant challenges in negotiations.

There are many factors that influence the pricing of a drug or vaccine , including development time, manufacturing capacity, the approval process, medical need, efficacy, and competition. Moderna said the spike in vaccine prices is due to the size and timing of orders.

Moderna's vaccine is tested at the National Institutes of Health. (Photo: NY Times).

Comparing the prices of Covid-19 vaccines is currently quite difficult, especially when they are still in development and have not yet received any approval from regulatory agencies.

However, in a US Congressional hearing last week, both major manufacturers, Moderna and Pfizer, made it clear that they intend to make a profit from the vaccine.

' We will not sell at cost ,' said Dr. Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna.

In contrast, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson said that if the vaccine is proven effective, at least in the early stages of the pandemic, they will distribute it at no profit.

A World Health Organization (WHO) proposal to grant intellectual property rights to Covid-19-related inventions, including vaccines, has not received support from governments or pharmaceutical companies. Politicians and activists fear that low-income countries will be left behind as all developed countries scramble to get effective nCoV prevention measures for their citizens.

Moderna's vaccine is still considered the strongest candidate in the race. In addition to the government money, the company has received $5 billion in investments from many parties. The peer-reviewed study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in early July, showed that the product produced antibodies in all 45 participants in the phase one trial. The phase three trial began on July 27.

Also this month, AstraZeneca announced that its vaccine could produce a strong immune response in the body, while competitors BioNTech and Pfizer revealed similar news.