Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo Co. said Friday it has started manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine of Britain's AstraZeneca PLC in Japan, as reports emerged in some European countries of blood clots in people receiving the vaccine.
Based on an outsourcing agreement concluded in February, the Japanese pharmaceutical firm began the vial filling and packaging of the vaccine Thursday using undiluted solutions provided by AstraZeneca at its subsidiary Daiichi Sankyo Biotech Co., it said.
"We will supply the vaccine immediately after gaining approval from the Japanese government," an AstraZeneca official said.