European Union in talks to secure Sanofi deal for coronavirus vaccine

Armed with an emergency fund of more than 2 billion euros (1.80 billion pounds), the European Commission wants to strike deals with up to six drug makers for their vaccines

Sanofi SA and GlaxoSmithKline Plc on Friday said they were in advanced discussions to supply up to 300 million doses of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine for the 27-country European Union.

Armed with an emergency fund of more than 2 billion euros (£1.80 billion), the European Commission wants to strike deals with up to six drugmakers for their vaccines for their 450 million citizens against the coronavirus that has killed 674,000 people worldwide.

The Commission said the aim of the talks with Sanofi was to clinch an advance purchase deal.

"The envisaged contract with Sanofi would provide for an option for