AstraZeneca has decided to withdraw its successful coronavirus vaccine, Vaxzevria, due to a decrease in demand caused by the availability of numerous new vaccines. The vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, has been widely used globally with over 3 billion doses supplied since its first administration in the UK on January 4, 2021. However, the company has not generated revenue from the vaccine since April 2023.
In a statement shared with CNN, AstraZeneca attributed the decline in demand for Vaxzevria to the surplus of updated Covid-19 vaccines that have been developed. As a result, the company has made the decision to stop manufacturing and supplying the vaccine. They have initiated the withdrawal of marketing authorizations for Vaxzevria within Europe, as announced by the European Medicines Agency.
AstraZeneca has stated that they will work with regulators in other countries to determine the future of the vaccine where no future commercial demand is expected. Despite the withdrawal of Vaxzevria, the company expressed pride in the role the vaccine has played in combating the global pandemic. The situation is still developing and updates will be provided as needed.