The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) sent this Monday (October 26) to the External Commission of the Chamber of Deputies to Confront Covid-19 the Technology Order contract signed with the company AstraZeneca for the production of the vaccine against Covid-19. Although the document contains confidential information, common in contracts of this nature and classified according to Law 12,527/2011 and its Decree 7,724/12, it was sent to the Commission in its full version for the attention of the Legislative Branch. Fiocruz thus reaffirms its commitment to the transparency of its actions, a mark present in its 120 years of history.
"As a strategic institution of the Brazilian State, Fiocruz has always guided its negotiations by seeking to save public resources and the national interest in guaranteeing universal access for the Brazilian population, on a favorable basis. This agreement was not different and the contract was the result of the union between our institutional commitment and the bases and premises established by the Ministry of Health for this negotiation", highlights Nísia Trindade Lima, president of Fiocruz.
According to Marco Krieger, Fiocruz's Vice President of Health Production and Innovation, in a context of exceptionality, in which the whole world seeks the immunizing agent for this disease that has already surpassed one million deaths, the terms negotiated place Brazil in a prominent position in the global scenario. "The agreement with AstraZeneca guarantees not only access to an expressive volume of one of the most promising vaccines that follows a phase 3 clinical study, but also ensures total technology transfer to Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz. The commitment also guarantees that there is no profit margin for AstraZeneca or Fiocruz until July 1, 2021," explains Krieger.
In response to the global public health emergency, Fiocruz and AstraZeneca signed a commitment to work with no profit margin, in the acquisition of the products necessary for production until July 1, 2021, i.e., during the term of the contract, when Fiocruz will have fully absorbed technology. After this reference period, there will be no product acquisition and Fiocruz will have autonomy for the production, being able to meet national needs autonomously, even if the pandemic extends beyond the initially expected.
According to Marco Krieger, the cost of the vaccine was a differential in the negotiation. "At the price of US$ 3.16 per dose, it is considered one of the cheapest, when compared to other ongoing negotiations worldwide. The value practiced, including the technology transfer that will bring national autonomy as from 2021, is a direct result of a differentiated performance made possible by the existing productive and technological capacity", highlights the vice-president.