SGS SIGNS ANALYTICAL TESTING AGREEMENT WITH ASTRAZENECA FOR COVID-19 VACCINE CANDIDATE

SGS is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with AstraZeneca for the provision of safety, quality control and analytical testing services in support of AZD1222 – a COVID-19 vaccine candidate co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca. SGS will conduct vaccine bulk harvest and drug substance testing from its Biosafety Centre of Excellence in Glasgow, Scotland. The recently expanded laboratory provides testing of cell banks, vaccines, gene and cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant protein based biological medicines, including a vaccine testing solution suitable for coronavirus. Dr. Archie Lovatt, Scientific Operations Director (Biosafety), SGS says: "As pioneers in the development of the biosafety testing industry, our team at Glasgow's Biosafety Centre of Excellence is proud to be part of this important development programme. We welcome the opportunity to join forces with AstraZeneca to provide testing in support of the AZD1222 vaccine candidate." In addition to the viral bulk harvest testing, SGS will also conduct quality control and analytical testing of the vaccine production in its laboratory in Wavre, Belgium. This site, which is qualified as a centre of excellence in GMP large molecule testing, will support batch release and stability testing. Mr. Wim Van Immerseel, Business Unit Manager, SGS Belgium, commented: "Our teams are enthusiastic and motivated to contribute to the fight against this pandemic by supporting AstraZeneca." SGS LIFE SCIENCE SERVICES SGS leverages its digitalised network of life science laboratories, present in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, to deliver harmonised testing solutions for analytical development, biologics characterisation, biosafety and quality control, as well as clinical trial management to large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. For further information, please contact: Josée Leach Global Marketing Manager, Life Sciences SGS t: +44 7889 939 512 ABOUT SGS SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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