Coronavirus

Shionogi to file for approval of COVID vaccine in June or July

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
A child receives a shot of novel coronavirus vaccine in Tokyo in February

Jiji Press

16:02 JST, May 13, 2022

OSAKA (Jiji Press) — Shionogi & Co. plans to file for health ministry approval of its COVID-19 vaccine in June or July this year, according to informed sources.

If the vaccine gets the green light, it would be the first approved novel coronavirus vaccine developed in Japan.

The drugmaker will apply for the regulatory approval based on the results of a clinical study that are expected to come out later this month at the earliest, the sources said Wednesday.

Shionogi President Isao Teshirogi told a press conference, “We have a very good vaccine ready.”

For the current fiscal year ending in March 2023, Shionogi expects to report group sales of ¥400 billion, up 19.4% from the previous year, and a consolidated operating profit of ¥120 billion, up 8.8%, according to figures released on Wednesday. The company projects a total of ¥110 billion in sales from the COVID-19 vaccine and its coronavirus pill, for which it has applied for regulatory approval.