One of China’s most prominent biotech companies said it was “mind-boggling” that Beijing has not allowed sales of Covid-19 vaccines using technology pioneered by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer.
BeiGene’s research chief told the Financial Times it was “unfortunate” that Chinese authorities had not approved messenger RNA shots, which provide longer lasting and higher levels of protection than vaccines made by homegrown rivals.
China is the only big economy that has maintained strict quarantine for international arrivals and lockdowns to curb outbreaks of the virus. The pandemic policies have stunted the country’s economic growth and disrupted global supply chains.