The Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) at Nes Ziyona announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with the international NRx Pharmaceuticals company.
NRx, which is traded on Nasdaq, will collaborate with the IIBR on the completion of trials and commercialization process for BriLife, the IIBR’s coronavirus vaccine, according to a joint statement.
“This agreement is excellent news for Israel’s citizens and highlights the unprecedented achievement of the Israel Institute for Biological Research,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
“I anticipate that with this agreement, we will be able to complete the development of the vaccine and enable Israel to produce vaccines independently because as we have seen recently, the coronavirus is not going anywhere. At the same time, the IIBR and the entire defense establishment will continue to take part in the national effort to counter the effects of this pandemic,” he added.
Gantz also praised the IIRB’s nonstop efforts to secure Israelis, “whether it be in the area of defense or health.”
According to the Defense Ministry, the commercialization process of Israeli vaccines has so far been led by Tel Hashomer Ltd., which won a tender and was approved by the accountant general in the Ministry of Finance.
The new memorandum will see the completion of clinical trials in Israel, Ukraine and Georgia, and spells out the next commercial and marketing processes.
“NRx Pharmaceuticals will complete the clinical trials needed to increase the statistical sample and to prepare the necessary regulatory files in order to continue the clinical trials and conduct its third phase,” said the statement. “The company will conduct clinical trials on tens of thousands of volunteers in the countries with which it has signed cooperation agreements.”
