Benzinga | Oct 21, 2021 12:11PM EDT

Novartis Extends Fill/Finish Support For Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines

* Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) has agreed to expand its fill-and-finish support for Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) / BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) COVID-19 vaccine.

* Novartis will use its sterile manufacturing facilities at its Novartis Technical Operations site in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to fill at least 24 million doses in 2022.

* Novartis plans to take bulk mRNA active ingredient from BioNTech and fill them into vials under sterile conditions for shipment back to BioNTech for distribution.

* This new agreement follows an earlier deal to fill and finish more than 50 million doses in 2021 at the Novartis Stein site in Switzerland.

* Related: BioNTech Starts Production At New Germany Plant In Boost For COVID-19 Shots.

* Price Action: NVS shares traded higher by 0.31% at $84.73 premarket on the last check Thursday.