New York, Sep 8, 2020, SPA -- Nine pharmaceutical companies pledged on Tuesday to "uphold the integrity of the scientific process" as they face pressure to quickly produce a coronavirus vaccine. In a joint statement, the drug makers said they would only submit the vaccines for approval after demonstrating safety and efficacy through "large, high quality clinical trials," according to dpa. They promised to "always make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals our top priority." The pledge is signed by the chief executives of AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer and Sanofi. The unusual move comes amid concerns that political pressure to quickly roll out inoculations could undermine public trust in them, potentially deterring people from taking a vaccine. --SPA 17:50 LOCAL TIME 14:50 GMT 0016 www.spa.gov.sa/w1406768