EU Readies Legal Action Against AstraZeneca Over Missing Doses

The European Union’s executive arm is preparing a legal case by the end of the week against AstraZeneca Plc over its failure to deliver its promised number of doses to the bloc, according to an official familiar with the discussions.

Legal action which needs to be agreed by all member states, has been discussed for weeks by the bloc’s ambassadors, according to another official, who asked not to be identified because the process is private.

A message left with Astra’s media office wasn’t immediately returned. Politico reported earlier on the timing of the legal proceedings.

Astra delivered just 30 million of its originally committed 120 million doses to the European Union in the first quarter.

Despite Astra’s shortfall, the EU has started to turn the corner in its vaccination campaign, which is still lagging behind the U.K. and the U.S.

The Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE alliance now plans to deliver 600 million doses to the bloc this year. Pfizer is also bringing forward the timing of some deliveries to this quarter.

(BLOOMBERG)