NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., February 27, 2021 – Johnson
& Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced that the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use
Authorization (EUA) for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, developed by
the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to
prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older.
This
decision was based on the totality of scientific evidence, including
data from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study that demonstrated the vaccine was
85 percent effective in preventing severe disease across all regions
studied, and showed protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization
and death, beginning 28 days after vaccination.
The terms of the
EUA allow use of the vaccine while more data are gathered. The Company
plans to file for a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA
later in 2021.
“This milestone follows a year of incredible work
by our dedicated teams and unprecedented collaboration with health
leaders around the world – all of whom shared a goal of bringing a
single-shot vaccine to the public,” said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer at Johnson & Johnson. “We will do everything we
can to help bring this pandemic to an end, in the United States and
throughout the world.”
“We believe the Johnson & Johnson
single-shot COVID-19 vaccine is a critical tool for fighting this global
pandemic, particularly as it shows protection across countries with
different variants. A vaccine that protects against COVID-19, especially
against the most dire outcomes of hospitalization and death, will help
ease the burden on people and the strain on health systems worldwide,”
said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and
Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson. “We look forward to our
continued efforts around the world as we collectively aim to change the
trajectory of this global pandemic.”
Johnson & Johnson is
committed to making its COVID-19 vaccine available on a not-for-profit
basis for emergency pandemic use. The Company has begun shipping its
COVID-19 vaccine and expects to deliver enough single-shot vaccines by
the end of March to enable the full vaccination of more than 20 million
people in the U.S. The Company plans to deliver 100 million single-shot
vaccines to the U.S. during the first half of 2021. The U.S. government
will manage allocation and distribution of the vaccine in the U.S. This
will be prioritized according to the populations identified by the CDC’s
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines.
Johnson & Johnson also recently announced its submission of a European Conditional Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency as well as its filing for an Emergency Use Listing (EUL)
with the World Health Organization for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
In addition, rolling submissions for the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine
candidate have been initiated in several countries worldwide.
The EUA follows a unanimous vote by the U.S. FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on February 26, 2021.
“We
are thankful for the efforts of all those who have volunteered to
participate in our clinical trials, our scientists, collaborators,
clinical trial sites and investigators. Through the combined commitment
of everyone involved, we have been able to discover, develop and
manufacture a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to protect people around the
world,” said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research
& Development, Johnson & Johnson.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Information
The
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-dose vaccine is compatible with
standard vaccine storage and distribution channels with ease of delivery
to remote areas. The vaccine is estimated to remain stable for two
years at -4°F (-20°C), and a maximum of three months at routine
refrigeration at temperatures of 36-46°F (2 to 8°C). The Company will
ship the vaccine using the same cold chain technologies it uses today to
transport treatments for cancer, immunological disorders and other
medicines. The COVID-19 vaccine should not be re-frozen if distributed
at temperatures of 36°F–46°F (2°-8°C).
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine
The Company’s COVID-19 vaccine leverages the AdVac® vaccine platform,
a unique and proprietary technology that was also used to develop and
manufacture Janssen’s European Commission-approved Ebola vaccine regimen
and construct its investigational Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccines.
The
Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but has been authorized by FDA
through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to
prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in individuals 18 years of
age and older. There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
The
FDA EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine
(Vaccination Providers) and full EUA Prescribing Information are
available at: www.janssenlabels.com/emergency-use-authorization/Janssen+COVID-19+Vaccine-HCP-fact-sheet.pdf.
Phase 3 ENSEMBLE Study Design
The Phase 3 ENSEMBLE
study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
in individuals 18 years of age and older. The study was designed to
evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Company’s vaccine candidate in
protecting against both moderate and severe COVID-19 disease, with
assessment of efficacy as of day 14 and as of day 28 as co-primary
endpoints. The study enrolled a total of 43,783 participants.
The
trial, conducted in eight countries across three continents, includes a
diverse and broad population including 34 percent of participants over
age 60.
The study enrolled 44 percent of participants in the
United States. Seventy-four percent of participants in the U.S. are
White/Caucasian; 15 percent are Hispanic and/or Latinx; 13 percent are
Black/African American; 6 percent are Asian and 1 percent are Native
American.
Forty-one percent of participants in the study had
comorbidities associated with an increased risk for progression to
severe COVID-19.
Research and development activities for the
Company’s COVID-19 vaccine, including the ENSEMBLE clinical trial and
the delivery of doses for the U.S., has been funded in part with federal
funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Biomedical
Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under Contract No.
HHSO100201700018C, and in collaboration with the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS).
Johnson & Johnson has worked with BARDA since 2015 on
innovative solutions for influenza, chemical, biological, radiation and
nuclear threats and emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola.
For more information on the Company’s multi-pronged approach to helping combat the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/coronavirus.
Authorized Use
The
Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use under an Emergency Use
Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 18 years of age and older.
Important Safety Information
WHAT SHOULD YOU MENTION TO YOUR VACCINATION PROVIDER BEFORE YOU GET THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?
Tell the vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
· have any allergies
· have a fever
· have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
· are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
· are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
· are breastfeeding
· have received another COVID-19 vaccine
WHO SHOULD NOT GET THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?
You should not get the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine if you:
· had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine.
HOW IS THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE GIVEN?
The
Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine will be given to you as an injection into the
muscle. The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine vaccination schedule is a single
dose.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?
Side effects that have been reported with the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine include:
· Injection site reactions: pain, redness of the skin, and swelling.
· General side effects: headache, feeling very tired, muscle aches, nausea, fever.
There
is a remote chance that the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a
severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur
within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Janssen
COVID-19 Vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you
to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring
after vaccination. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:
· Difficulty breathing
· Swelling of your face and throat
· A fast heartbeat
· A bad rash all over your body
· Dizziness and weakness
These
may not be all the possible side effects of the Janssen COVID-19
Vaccine. Serious and unexpected effects may occur. The Janssen COVID-19
Vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.
WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.
Call the vaccination provider or your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or report online to https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.
Please include “Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine EUA” in the first line of box
#18 of the report form. In addition, you can report side effects to
Janssen Biotech, Inc. at 1-800-565-4008.
About Johnson & Johnson
At
Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of
vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for
more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and
every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most
broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach
and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create
healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment
within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science
and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for
humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At
Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past.
We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working
tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by
fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and
healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we
can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism,
Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology,
and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at
@JanssenGlobal.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development
of a potential preventive vaccine for COVID-19. The reader is cautioned
not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are
based on current expectations of future events. If underlying
assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties
materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations
and projections of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, and/or Johnson
& Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and
development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of
obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success;
manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including
technological advances, new products and patents attained by
competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns
resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior
and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and
services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global
health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A
further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other
factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021, including in the
sections captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in the company’s most
recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company’s
subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies
of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com
or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen
Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update
any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future
events or developments.
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