VIR-7831 Supply Agreement for Pandemic Purposes

Concepts

• pharmaceutical products
• pandemic response
• vir-7831 supply agreement
• pandemic purposes
• death.this agreement
• critical importance
• urgent need
• medical reasons
• unforeseen circumstances
• comprehensive approach

Location

United Kingdom: London

Description

The evolution of the UK’s pandemic response has highlighted the critical importance and economic value of a multi-layered and comprehensive approach to COVID-19.The need for antibodies and other therapeutics has always been under consideration, the mutation of the virus and the risk this poses on antibody and vaccine efficacy has only recently been properly identified and still requires further academic studies.These unforeseen circumstances mean there is now a critical, urgent need to procure and deploy a new class of mAbs, that can neutralise any COVID-19 variant. These neutralising mAbs provide protection to a cohort of the population who, for medical reasons, cannot mount an appropriate immune response to vaccination or, for whatever reason, do not get vaccinated and are also at higher risk of hospitalisation or death.This agreement is for the procurement of 100,008 units of Sotrovimab (VIR-7831).

Total Quantity or Scope

Procurement of VIR-7831.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

Legal Justification

This good was procured under Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, for the following reasons:1. Strictly NecessaryScientific data has recently emerged which now shows how SARS-VoV-2 mutates such that it may make existing vaccine and antibody treatments ineffective. This mAb is one of only a handful of COVID-19 suitable ‘neutralising’ mAbs under development which can withstand the current Variant of Concern mutations. It is also the only one which has the potential to be MHRA approved for non-hospitalised patients in time for Autumn/Winter 2022. This mAb is therefore critical for the protection of the immunocompromised cohort of the UK population..2. Extreme UrgencyThe potential impact on public health if this contract award is not made is significant and therefore DHSC has an urgent requirement for mAb therapies to be available for Q3 and Q4 2021. The UK is seeing daily case numbers increasing rapidly and new virus mutations spreading globally, despite ongoing international travel restrictions. The UK must act on the most up to date data it has access to, which indicates that there is a severe threat to public health for the immunocompromised cohort of the UK population which must be addressed. 3. UnforeseeableThere are many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, since its original outbreak, which have been entirely unforeseeable and which have resulted in nations across the world struggling to respond. DHSC is acting on the newest information it has available to tailor its COVID-19 response accordingly.4. The event was not caused by DHSCThe events leading to the requirements for neutralising mAb treatment are not attributable to any action by DHSC. Rather the requirement is being driven by the mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the consequential evolution of a global pandemic.5. Minimum procurement timescalesTime is of the essence in relation to the need to secure the mAb supply. Wave-3 is underway and wave-4 is predicted to have begun by Q4 of 2021. In light of that and the fact that this mAb is yet to obtain final MHRA approval to make it lawful for use by DHSC, it will not be possible to comply with the minimum timescales of a standard open, restricted or competitive negotiated procedure procurement exercise.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** Information on contract value is being withheld due to commercial sensitivity under Regulation 50(6)(b) and (c) as the publication of the price may enable competitors to calculate cost per dose. This will (i) commercially prejudice the supplier in its ongoing negotiations with other national governments; (ii) commercially prejudice the contracting authority in its ongoing negotiations with other vendors and (iii) impact fair competition between vendors