Drug Companies Pledge to Stand with Vaccine Science

September 11, 2020

The CEOs of nine pharmaceutical manufacturers working on COVID-19 vaccines – AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer, and Sanofi – signed a pledge Tuesday to “uphold the integrity of the scientific process as they work towards potential global regulatory filings and approvals of the first COVID-19 vaccines.”

In the pledge, the companies agreed to:

• Always make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals our top priority.
• Continue to adhere to high scientific and ethical standards regarding the conduct of clinical trials and the rigor of manufacturing processes.
• Only submit for approval or emergency use authorization after demonstrating safety and efficacy through a Phase 3 clinical study that is designed and conducted to meet requirements of expert regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Work to ensure a sufficient supply and range of vaccine options, including those suitable for global access.