About SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturers include Pfizer and BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax, mNEXSPIKE) and Novavax with Sanofi (Nuvaxovid), plus producers in China, India and other countries. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines protect against COVID-19. They are made using mRNA, protein subunit, inactivated virus or viral vector technologies, and are updated regularly to match circulating variants. Pharmaceutical companies can source COVID-19 vaccines through supply, regional licensing or technology transfer.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine key facts
|
Property |
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine |
|---|---|
|
Vaccine types |
mRNA; protein subunit; inactivated virus; viral vector |
|
ATC codes |
J07BN01 (RNA); J07BN02 (viral vector); J07BN03 (inactivated); J07BN04 (protein subunit) |
|
Main mRNA vaccines |
Comirnaty (Pfizer / BioNTech); Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE (Moderna) |
|
Protein vaccine |
Nuvaxovid (Novavax, commercialised with Sanofi) |
|
Other vaccines |
CoronaVac (Sinovac); BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm); Covaxin (Bharat Biotech); Covovax (Serum Institute of India) |
|
Dosage form |
Suspension for intramuscular injection; prefilled syringes or vials |
|
Indication |
Active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 |
|
First full approvals |
Comirnaty, US FDA, August 2021; Spikevax, US FDA, January 2022 |
|
Strain updates |
Composition updated regularly to match circulating variants |
|
US label scope (2025) |
Approvals limited to people aged 65 and over and younger people with at least one high-risk condition |
|
Discontinued products |
Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) withdrawn in the EU in 2024; Jcovden (Janssen) discontinued |
|
Generic / biosimilar status |
Not applicable; each vaccine licensed separately |
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturers and licensing history
COVID-19 vaccines were first authorised for emergency use in December 2020. Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty received full US approval in August 2021, and Moderna's Spikevax in January 2022. Both are mRNA vaccines. Novavax's Nuvaxovid, a protein vaccine, is now commercialised with Sanofi, and Moderna added a next-generation mRNA vaccine, mNEXSPIKE.
Other vaccines were widely used during the pandemic, including Sinovac's CoronaVac, Sinopharm's inactivated vaccine, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria. Demand has fallen sharply since 2022, and several products have been withdrawn.
Vaccines are now updated regularly to match new variants. In 2025, the US limited approvals to people aged 65 and over and younger people at high risk. Buyers should confirm the current strain composition, regulatory status in each market, cold-chain requirements and supply terms before choosing a supplier.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosage forms and dossier types
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are supplied as suspensions for intramuscular injection, in single-dose prefilled syringes or vials.
|
Form |
Technology |
Typical dossier |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
mRNA vaccine |
Lipid nanoparticle mRNA |
US BLA; EU MAA |
Frozen or refrigerated storage, by product |
|
Protein subunit vaccine |
Recombinant spike protein with adjuvant |
US BLA; EU MAA |
Refrigerated storage |
|
Inactivated vaccine |
Whole inactivated virus |
National licence; WHO EUL (historical) |
Mainly China and India |
|
Target market |
Dossier format |
Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
United States |
BLA |
Annual strain update; restricted age and risk groups |
|
European Union |
MAA (variations for new strains) |
EMA strain recommendations |
|
Other markets |
National licence |
Check current recommendations and demand |
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regulatory and patent status
Each COVID-19 vaccine is licensed separately, as there are no generic vaccines. Regulators review updated formulas regularly to match new variants. In the US, 2025 approvals limited use to people aged 65 and over and younger people with high-risk conditions. mRNA and lipid nanoparticle technologies are covered by many patents, and several patent disputes between developers are ongoing.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine mechanism of action and therapeutic use
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines teach the immune system to recognise the virus's spike protein. mRNA vaccines deliver instructions for cells to make the spike protein, protein vaccines contain the spike protein directly, and inactivated vaccines contain killed virus. The immune response reduces the risk of severe COVID-19, hospital admission and death, especially in older and high-risk people.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine licensing and sourcing
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine suppliers and licensing partners typically offer finished vaccine supply, regional licensing or technology transfer, especially for mRNA platforms. Buyers usually compare regulatory approvals, strain updates, cold-chain needs and supply terms. Current offers and supplier contacts are listed among the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturers on Pipelinepharma.
Frequently asked questions about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Who are the main SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturers? Pfizer and BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax, mNEXSPIKE) and Novavax with Sanofi (Nuvaxovid) are the main suppliers in the US and EU. Sinovac, Sinopharm and Bharat Biotech also produced widely used vaccines.
Are COVID-19 vaccines updated? Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are updated regularly to match circulating variants, based on regulators' strain recommendations.
Who can receive COVID-19 vaccines in the US? Since 2025, US approvals cover people aged 65 and over and younger people with at least one high-risk condition.
What types of COVID-19 vaccine are there? COVID-19 vaccines include mRNA, protein subunit, inactivated virus and viral vector vaccines.
Is there a generic COVID-19 vaccine? No. Each COVID-19 vaccine is licensed separately, but some technology transfer programmes support regional production.
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