SINOVAC COVID-19 Vaccine Authorized for Commercial Sale in Myanmar
Yangon, Myanmar- 8 November, 2021
Sea Lion Group is pleased to announce a collaboration with Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SINOVAC) to facilitate the commercial sale and distribution of SINOVAC CoronaVac® COVID-19 vaccines in Myanmar starting mid-November 2021. Myanmar was recently battered by the country's third wave of COVID-19 infections, placing pressure on both public and private healthcare resources. Packed hospitals and oxygen shortages demonstrated the need for effective vaccines and a universal vaccination program. Sea Lion has been at the forefront of the private sector's efforts to bear the brunt of the deadliest wave to hit Myanmar, providing a wide array of products and services that have been irreplaceable in saving lives impacted most by the virus.
Group CEO of Sea Lion Dr. Win Zaw Aung said, "In spite of the unprecedented strain on Myanmar's healthcare system and a contracting economy, Sea Lion has managed to procure and offer an extensive range of essential emergency response medical products vital for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. By adding a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine developed by SINOVAC to our portfolio, we will now be able to provide the most comprehensive suite of products designed to combat the pandemic in Myanmar."
The CoronaVac® is innovated and manufactured by SINOVAC, a pharmaceutical company based in Beijing. In China, the CoronaVac® was cleared for Emergency Use Authorization in June 2020, conditional marketing use on 5 February 2021, and emergency use for children aged 3-17 in May 2021. On 1 June 2021, the WHO approved this vaccine for emergency use. As of September 2021, more than 50 countries have authorized the vaccine for emergency use or marketing use with conditions, 6 of which have cleared it for children. In Myanmar, the CoronaVac® vaccine has been in use since 8 August 2021.
On 1 November 2021, the Myanmar FDA has officially granted Sea Lion the importation approval for commercial sale of the CoronaVac® vaccine for people aged 12 and above. Sea Lion is planning to receive the first batch of vaccines in mid-November. Dr. Win continued to say that Sea Lion Group's logistic arm, SLDS Co. is capable of and has been authorized to store and distribute COVID-19 vaccines of all three temperature requirements and that SLDS has already successfully provided end-to-end storage and distribution services for 250,000-plus doses of COVID-19 vaccines to vaccination sites in over 30 cities in Myanmar.
About SINOVAC
SINOVAC Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. SINOVAC's product portfolio includes vaccines against COVID-19, enterovirus71 (EV71), hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, 23-Valent pneumococcal polysaccharide ("PPV"), H5N1 pandemic influenza (avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu), varicella, mumps and Poliomyelitis. SINOVAC's COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac®, has been granted emergency use approval or conditional marketing authorization by over 50 countries or regions worldwide. Healive®, the hepatitis A vaccine manufactured by the Company, has passed the assessment under WHO prequalification procedures in 2017. The EV71 vaccine, an innovative vaccine developed by SINOVAC against hand foot and mouth disease caused by EV71, was commercialized in China in 2016. In 2009, SINOVAC was the first company worldwide to receive approval for its H1N1 influenza vaccine, which it has supplied to the Chinese Government's vaccination campaign and stockpiling program. The Company is also the only supplier of the H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine to the government stockpiling program. In 2021, SINOVAC's Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine was approved for registration. The Company is developing several new products including combined vaccines. SINOVAC primarily sells its vaccines in China, while also exploring growth opportunities in international markets. The Company is seeking market authorization of its products in over 30 countries outside of China. For more information, please see the Company's website at www.SINOVAC.com.
About Sea Lion
Sea Lion is a key player in the emerging Myanmar private healthcare sector, partnering with renowned global and regional brands including GE Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic, Abbott, BD, Festo, IBM, and Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PLC (BDMS) in healthcare, vocational education, industrial automation, and information technologies, many of which have never before set foot in Myanmar. Sea Lion carries a wide range of quality healthcare products and services managed by a team of competent professionals, and has been relentlessly improving quality of care by enhancing effective utilization of advanced medical technologies.
About SINOVAC
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SINOVAC) is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases.
SINOVAC's product portfolio includes vaccines against COVID-19, enterovirus 71 (EV71) infected Hand-Foot-Mouth disease (HFMD), hepatitis A, varicella, influenza, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal disease, and mumps.
The COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac®, has been approved for use in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide. The hepatitis A vaccine, Healive®, passed WHO prequalification requirements in 2017. The EV71 vaccine, Inlive®, is an innovative vaccine under "Category 1 Preventative Biological Products" and was commercialized in China in 2016. In 2022, SINOVAC's Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine (sIPV) and varicella vaccine were prequalified by the WHO.
SINOVAC was the first company to be granted approval for its H1N1 influenza vaccine Panflu.1®, which has supplied the Chinese government's vaccination campaign and stockpiling program. The Company is also the only supplier of the H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine, Panflu®, to the Chinese government stockpiling program.
SINOVAC continually dedicates itself to new vaccine R&D, with more combination vaccine products in its pipeline, and constantly explores global market opportunities. SINOVAC plans to conduct more extensive and in-depth trade and cooperation with additional countries, and business and industry organizations.
For more information, please see the Company’s website at www.sinovac.com.
Contact:
Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
PR Team
pr@sinovac.com