AstraZeneca legal notice to Serum Institute over supply delays

Serum Institute of India, the maker of the coronavirus vaccine Covishield, has been served a legal notice by AstraZeneca over vaccine supply delays.

Serum chief Adar Poonawalla told Business Standard that the Indian government is aware of the legal notice and is evaluating how to resolve the issue.

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He said that the dispute is over contractual obligations that Serum Institute is not able to fulfil due to its prioritisation of Indian supplies.

He also said the government's pause on major Covishield shipments to other countries and the "first claim" deal with India were difficult to explain abroad.

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