By Cecilia Butini

Novartis AG said Friday that it has signed an initial agreement with BioNTech SE to provide support in the manufacture of the coronavirus vaccine it is producing with Pfizer Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will take the mRNA active ingredient from BioNTech, fill it into vials and ship it back to the German company for distribution.

For this, the Swiss pharmaceutical major will use its aseptic manufacturing facilities in Stein, Switzerland, it said.

The company plans to start production in the second quarter of 2021, and shipment of the finished product is expected in the third quarter, it said. This is subject to reaching a final agreement, it said.

Another European pharmaceutical major, Sanofi SA, recently said it would support BioNTech in the manufacture of the coronavirus vaccine under development with Pfizer in a bid to ease the vaccine shortfall in the European Union.

Write to Cecilia Butini at cecilia.butini@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-29-21 0707ET