Tata arm in talks with J&J, AZ for Covid jab | Economic Times

Tata Medical & Diagnostics is in marketing and distribution discussions with multiple Covid-19 vaccine makers such as Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. Moderna, with whom Tata initially held talks, has cited its inability to supply vaccines for at least another year on production constraints owing to worker shortage. It will be able to arrange exports next year, Tata group officials said. “We have, therefore, decided to tie up with two or three vaccine makers for our ambitious vaccination strategy. That will also give vaccine options, as per the government’s plan,” said one of the officials cited above. The group is also talking to leading hospitals such as Apollo and Max to partner them in sourcing oxygen, vaccines and crucial medical supplies. 82250571Fluid Situation: Officials“We will partner large hospitals across the country and also cater to their specific Covid needs, apart from making vaccinations available,” said an official close to the developments.The group is already tapping the network of 1mg, the medical portal it is in the process of acquiring, which offers testing services to hospitals. The portal also plans to enter the Covid-19 inoculation market post May 1, when it will be opened up to the private sector. 1mg chief executive Prashant Tandon has begun participating in Tata Medical’s discussions on the plans. Tata group also has a medical portal, Tata Health, which offers diagnostic tests and online doctor consultations.Group officials call it a fluid situation as its strategy in the pharma sector depends on government policies as well as global developments, particularly with regard to sourcing. “There are new developments every day in the country owing to the Covid emergency, vaccination pricing and imports,” a senior group official told ET. “We are currently ironing out the specifics. We will cover the vaccination of our 6 lakh employees, trade partners and vendors and parallelly, offer vaccinations to others too,” he added. “The requirement for vaccines in India will be huge and the Tata group is keen to play an active role in the medical space.”Tata Sons did not comment. AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer did not immediately respond to emails sent by ET.1mg is expected to play a big role in the Tata group’s vaccination and other initiatives, say officials speaking on condition of anonymity. While Tata Medical & Diagnostics makes Covid-19 CRISPR kits, 1mg will handle testing and inoculations, going forward.Tata Medical & Diagnostics was set up in June last year in the midst of the pandemic and is keen to cater to Covid-19 health requirements in the devices and formulations space, officials said.It started by signing up with the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, constituent lab of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, for licensing of knowhow for a rapid diagnostic test to be deployed by end of May.