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

Equipped with an emergency fund of more than 2 billion euros (Â#1.80 billion), the European Commission would like to strike deals up to six drugmakers for their offenses because of their 450 million taxpayers against the coronavirus which has murdered 674,000 people worldwide.

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

"The envisaged contract with Sanofi would provide for an alternative for all EU Member States to purchase the vaccine," the Commission said in a statement.

"It is envisaged that, once a vaccine has been demonstrated to be safe and effective against COVID-19, the Commission could have a contractual framework in place for the purchase of 300 million doses, on behalf of all EU member states."

A Commission spokesman said he couldn't comment on when a deal could be announced and the feasible price for your vaccine, calling it a very promising step towards the eventual agreement.

Sanofi is functioning on two vaccine jobs such as one in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline.

The firms said the doses could be fabricated in European countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

Sanofi is leading the clinical development of the vaccine also hopes to begin a trial by the end of the season.

Earlier this week, EU talks with Sanofi, Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson struck an impasse over price, payment method and potential liability costs, EU officials told Reuters.

Other pharmaceutical companies talking to the EU comprise France's Valneva, Moderna and biotech companies BioNTech and Germany's CureVac.