Stevanato Group, a producer of pharmaceutical glass containers and drug delivery systems, and CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), signed an agreement for the supply of 100 million Type 1 Borosilicate glass vials to hold up to 2 billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, should product(s) be proven safe and effective. This supply is part of CEPI’s efforts to rapidly speed up the vaccine development timeline through making progress on manufacturing in parallel with the clinical development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Through this agreement, Stevanato Group, which produces 10 billion units a year of drug delivery systems, sterile and bulk glass containers, plastic diagnostic and medical components, becomes a key supplier to CEPI’s COVID-19 vaccine programs.

To date, CEPI has worked in coordination with its partners, investing as much as $829 million in nine COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The ultimate goal is to speed up the vaccine development timeframe to develop a successful vaccine in an accelerated 12-18-month timeframe.

The high-quality glass vials that CEPI have secured from Stevanato Group will be able to store 20 doses per vial (2 billion doses in total). The Group will also grant a "fast track" access to its glass vial forming lines provided by its company Spami.