Amid Moderna’s booster shortage, FDA clears batches from unauthorized facility

After some pharmacies and hospitals reported running out of Moderna’s omicron-targeted booster, the FDA authorized five lots of the product made at the drugmaker’s Bloomington, Ind., facility, which isn’t authorized to manufacture the modified vaccine. 

Advertisement

The facility is run by Somerset, N.J.-based Catalent, a pharmaceutical services company that Moderna chose in 2020 to help finish-and-fill production of its COVID-19 vaccine. In a recent inspection, the FDA listed 12 issues with the facility, including the failure to follow sterilization procedures and laboratory controls. 

Moderna then asked the FDA to OK some batches of the omicron booster supply made at the Indiana plant. In response, the agency added a few lots to the emergency use authorization it granted the drugmaker to begin distributing the modified vaccine product in early September.

The decision doesn’t apply to the whole facility, though, the FDA said Sept. 26: “This concurrence does not add any other Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bilavent batches manufactured at this facility to the EUA at this time and does not add the facility itself (for manufacture of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent) to the EUA at this time.”

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Supply Chain

Advertisement

Comments are closed.