Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Oxford Biomedica, the gene and cell therapy company, on its new three year Master Services & Development Agreement with AstraZeneca UK Ltd (AstraZeneca), which would facilitate potential future manufacturing opportunities for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

This deal represents an expansion of the original Master Supply and Development Agreement announced between the two companies in September 2020, on which Stephenson Harwood also advised.

The manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines at Oxford Biomedica’s Oxbox facility is expected to complete in the last quarter of 2022, as part of the original commitment. In accordance with the terms of the original agreement, and inclusive of revenues for batches already manufactured in the first half of 2022, Oxford Biomedica expects to recognise aggregate revenues of approximately £30 million from AstraZeneca in the current financial year.

Under the new agreement, manufacturing of vaccines at Oxford Biomedica’s world class 84,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility, Oxbox, will be available to AstraZeneca on an as needed basis beyond 2022.

The Stephenson Harwood team was led by commercial partner Dan Holland, with support from managing associate Chloe Haywood and associate Bobbie Bickerton. Further assistance was provided by partner Alexandra Pygall who assisted on the intellectual property aspects of the deal.