KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Health care services provider Zuellig Pharma announced that its division, ZP Therapeutics, would be distributing Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Zuellig Pharma, which touts to be one of the biggest health care services companies in Asia, provides distribution, digital and commercial services to over 350,000 medical facilities and its more than 1,000 clients, which include the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.
“This alliance is a significant step in expanding access to the Covid-19 Vaccine Moderna across Malaysia. We look forward to working closely with the various public and private stakeholders to bring the vaccine to where it is needed most, quickly and efficiently,” said ZP Therapeutics Malaysia head Jeff Nardo.
Zuellig Pharma CEO John Graham said his company was working closely with governments to help them plan for the security of their Covid-19 vaccine supply.
“We are drawing upon our expertise, resources, and extensive distribution network to support governments and, where allowed, private health care institutions across the region in implementing end-to-end vaccination programmes.”
Moderna chief commercial officer Corinne Le Goff said: “We are proud of what the Moderna team has achieved in collaboration with our partners including Zuellig Pharma, who will help to ensure successful delivery of the vaccine to market.”
American biotechnology company Moderna uses the mRNA technology for its two-dose coronavirus vaccine, similar to Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 shot.
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine has been approved in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Singapore, among other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed last April 30 Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use, allowing countries that are part of the United Nations-backed COVAX vaccine access programme to import and administer it.
Malaysia has yet to procure the Moderna vaccine over price concerns.
