AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical company, has announced the withdrawal of its highly successful coronavirus vaccine, Vaxzevria.
The decision was made due to a decline in demand for the vaccine, as there are now several new and updated Covid-19 shots available in the market.
Developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, Vaxzevria has been a key player in the fight against the pandemic, with over 3 billion doses supplied worldwide since its first administration in the United Kingdom in January 2021. However, the vaccine has not been generating revenue for AstraZeneca since April 2023.
In a statement shared with CNN, the company explained, “As multiple variant Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.” Consequently, AstraZeneca has decided to initiate the withdrawal of the marketing authorizations for Vaxzevria within Europe.
The European Medicines Agency has also confirmed the withdrawal, stating that Vaxzevria is no longer authorized to be marketed or sold in European Union countries. AstraZeneca has pledged to work with regulators in other countries to align on a clear path forward, including withdrawing marketing authorizations for the vaccine where no future commercial demand is expected.
Despite the withdrawal, AstraZeneca emphasized its pride in the role Vaxzevria played in combating the global pandemic.
The company’s efforts have been recognized by governments worldwide and are considered a critical component in ending the health crisis.
