Moderna Inc plans to market the coronavirus vaccine at $50 to $60 per course, at least $11 higher than another vaccine from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech.
Moderna’s new two-dose price sold to governments corresponds to $39 for two doses under the agreement that Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTechstruck with the U.S. government.
Industry experts said that Pfizer and BioNTech’s $2 billion contract to protect 50 million customers, which relies on the accepting drug, would likely place pressure on other producers to pay higher prices.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Merck & Co all said they are planning to market their vaccines for profit, while other drug manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, announced plans to offer their vaccines on a non-profit basis.
AstraZeneca Plc has offered to supply the United States with 300 million doses of the new vaccine in exchange for $1.2 billion in early financing, which amounts to $4 per dose.
The US government has given almost $1 billion in funding to Moderna to finance its research and development activities on its potential COVID-19 vaccine.
