J&J says U.S. FDA agrees to extend shelf life of its COVID-19 vaccine – Reuters

Empty vials of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen on a table at a vaccination centre in Ronda, Spain, April 23, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo/File Photo

July 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food & Drug Administration extended the shelf life for Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to six months from four-and-a-half months, the company said late Wednesday.

The FDA's decision is based on data from ongoing studies, which showed the vaccine is stable at six months when refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (3646 degrees Fahrenheit), the drugmaker said. (https://bit.ly/3ypgpTT)

In a letter to the company, the FDA said it had completed the review of data provided by J&J, and based on the information submitted, it concurs with the extension. (https://bit.ly/3zRuTMB)

The agency also said the extension was applicable to batches that might have expired prior to the issuance of the letter provided they were stored at the recommended temperature.

Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Subhranshu Sahu

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read this article:

J&J says U.S. FDA agrees to extend shelf life of its COVID-19 vaccine - Reuters