Covid-19 Vaccine Deal-Making Is Fleeting Game Changer for Pharma

Major drugmakers are teaming up at an unprecedented rate to meet Covid-19 vaccine production demands, but industry watchers say the drive may be short-lived.

Johnson & Johnson has a deal with Merck & Co. to help make its single-dose vaccine and is seeking additional partnerships to ramp up supply. Moderna inked deals with Catalent Inc. and Baxter International Inc. to fill vaccine vials. Novartis AG has agreed to put Pfizer’s shot into vials and formulate the mRNA that’s necessary to make CureVac NV’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

Some companies say the partnerships could help them boost capacity by as many as ...