Johnson & Johnson announced that Janssen-Cilag International N.V., has submitted a conditional Marketing Authorisation Application (cMAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking authorisation for its investigational single-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The submission is based on topline efficacy and safety data from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE clinical trial.
“Throughout Europe, there remains an urgent need for additional COVID-19 vaccines, and today’s submission is a significant step forward in ensuring the European Union has another option to help reduce the impact the pandemic has had in Europe and around the world,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson. “We stand ready to begin distributing our vaccine within the European Union in the second quarter of 2021.”
Once a conditional Marketing Authorisation has been granted, the Company must fulfill specific obligations within defined timelines, including the supply of additional data.
The Company announced in December it had initiated a rolling submission with the EMA for its investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, enabling the EMA to review data as they become available. In addition, rolling submissions for the investigational single-dose COVID-19 vaccine have been initiated in several countries worldwide and with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Company filed for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the United States on February 4, 2021.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Information
The Janssen investigational vaccine is compatible with standard vaccine distribution channels. If authorized, Janssen’s investigational single-dose vaccine is estimated to remain stable for two years at -20°C (-4°F), at least three months of which can be stored in most standard refrigerators at temperatures of 2°-8°C (36°F–46°F).
Janssen’s Investigational COVID-19 Vaccine
The Janssen investigational COVID-19 vaccine leverages the Company’s AdVac vaccine platform, which was also used to develop and manufacture Janssen’s European Commission-approved Ebola vaccine regimen and construct its investigational Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccines.
Phase 3 ENSEMBLE Study Design
The Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in adults 18 years old and older. The study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Janssen investigational vaccine 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 trial, conducted in eight countries across three continents, includes a diverse and broad population.