Takeda seeks fast-track review of Moderna vaccine in Japan

Drug giant aims to supply doses for 20m people by June

A decision on Takeda's application for the Moderna vaccine will likely be made after results from a Japanese clinical trial are submitted. © Reuters

YUTA TAKAGI, Nikkei staff writer

March 6, 2021 05:38 JST

TOKYO -- Takeda Pharmaceutical has asked the Japanese government to fast-track its application for Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, with plans to begin distribution by June.

Moderna is the third COVID-19 vaccine maker to undergo regulatory review in Japan, after Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Takeda is the one-stop agent for Moderna's vaccine here, handling clinical trials, application filing and distribution.