Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) started the two-dose Phase 3 trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine, dubbed “ENSEMBLE 2.”
The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company announced over the weekend the expansion to the partnership between its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the ongoing development of Janssen’s investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Under the amendment, Janssen will commit approximately $604 million and BARDA will commit approximately $454 million to support the ongoing Phase 3 ENSEMBLE trial evaluating Janssen’s investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate as a single-dose in up to 60,000 volunteers worldwide.
Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels said, “We greatly value the ongoing confidence and support of our investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate development program. Combined with our own significant investment, this agreement has enabled our vital research and development and underscores the importance of public-private partnerships to tackle the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.”
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under OTA No. HHSO100201700018C.
Johnson & Johnson affirmed its commitment to develop and test its Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate in accordance with high ethical standards and sound scientific principles, as outlined in a pledge made by nine vaccine manufacturers earlier this year.
JNJ shares gained 60 cents to $150.50.