Pfizer is producing vaccine doses at scale now that it has buttoned down the manufacturing process.

As Chinese returnees transform their startups to fully-fledged biopharma operations with a full product lineup and the global market in sight, the journey has been filled with challenges. Based on interviews and on-the-ground reporting, this new series takes a closer look at several companies' experiences.

Timeline is the most pessimistic public projection to date, but still incredibly fast. Clinical trial patients on placebo could be contacted and offered the vaccine after an EUA is granted.

Operation Warp Speed chief scientific advisor confirms doubts about the Phase III data from two UK and Brazil studies; says efficacy results in US trials of AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines expected by mid-January.