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Italy could produce bulk vaccines in 4-6 months: ministry – Metro US

Italy could produce bulk vaccines in 4-6 months: ministry

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker at the COVID-19 mass vaccination
FILE PHOTO: A medical worker at the COVID-19 mass vaccination centre at the Cecchignola military compound, in Rome, Italy

MILAN (Reuters) – Some Italian companies have given their availability to produce COVID-19 vaccines and the production could take off in 4-6 months after regulators’ authorisation, the industry ministry said on Wednesday.

Many companies would be ready to make bulk drug substance – the active ingredients of the vaccines – “because they already have, or will soon have, the necessary bioreactors and fermentation equipment”, the statement said.

It added that the government is willing to set up a research center in Italy for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, financed by both public and private investments.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, writing by Maria Pia Quaglia, editing by Giulia Segreti)