In this photographic illustration you can see a vaccine against covid-19 with the AstraZeneca logo in the background. (Photo illustration by Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Wednesday it said it planned to withdraw its Covid-19 vaccine as demand has waned.
The so-called Vaxzevria vaccine was developed with the University of Oxford and was one of the first Covid-19 injections to hit the market during the coronavirus pandemic, and millions of people around the world received it.
The UK was the first country to roll out the vaccine in January 2021, about a year after the World Health Organization first characterized the Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic.
Demand for the Vaxzevria vaccine has declined as new vaccines tailored to specific Covid variants have emerged, AstraZeneca said in a statement.
“As multiple variants of COVID-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of updated vaccines available. This has led to a decrease in demand for Vaxzervria, which is no longer manufactured or supplied,” the statement said. .
AstraZeneca said it would now work with regulators and partners to establish a path forward.
In March 2024, it had voluntarily withdrawn its marketing authorization in the European Union, which previously allowed it to promote the vaccine.
Despite being considered safe and effective, the AstraZeneca vaccine has at times raised concerns, especially over side effects after a very small number of people suffered vaccine-related blood clots. A UK study found they were “rare” but could be “devastating”.
The pharmaceutical maker said Wednesday it was “incredibly proud” of the vaccine's role during the pandemic.
“According to independent estimates, more than 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and more than three billion doses were delivered worldwide,” the statement said.
“Our efforts have been recognized by governments around the world and are widely considered a critical component in ending the global pandemic.”
In addition to the Covid vaccines, AstraZeneca has been working on a variety of other treatments for diseases such as cancer. The company said in March it would buy clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc, which specializes in cancer treatments.
