WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - Erik Prince, the founder of controversial private military firm Blackwater and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, jumped into the COVID-19 business late last year with a deal to distribute an experimental vaccine should it be approved, according to three people familiar with the arrangement and business records seen by Reuters. 路透社2021年6月4日華盛頓報導 — 普林斯（Erik Prince）是頗具爭議性的私人軍火公司「黑水」的創辦人，也是美國前總統川普的擁護者。根據路透社訪問過，熟悉黑水公司運作與交易紀錄的三位人士，普林斯從去年下半年起，也躍入新冠疫苗的商圈，企圖掌握一支目前尚在實驗階段的疫苗，以便未來若取得認證後，得以擁有銷售權。
The COVID-19 vaccine, known as UB-612, is being developed by a privately-held U.S. firm called COVAXX. 那支被稱為UB-612的新冠肺炎疫苗，乃是一家美國私人企業COVAXX所開發的。（譯者註：也就是聯亞生技所開發的聯亞疫苗）
The company has said the vaccine shows promise in protecting people against coronavirus, based on a small study of 60 patients in Taiwan. It hasn't provided data on safety and efficacy from large clinical trials, information that is usually required before a vaccine is authorized for public use. 該公司宣稱已在台灣60位病人中進行過小型實驗，顯示該疫苗可望保護病人對抗新冠肺炎，但尚未提供任何大型臨床實驗所得到，關於安全性及效能方面的數據，而那通常是疫苗可被認證供民眾施打前的必要條件。
COVAXX is unrelated to the similar-sounding but better-known "COVAX," a global vaccine distribution program backed by the World Health Organization. 以上所提到的這支COVAXX 疫苗，與另一支國際衛生組織（WHO）早已認證，也較知名的COVAX疫苗，聽起來頗相像，但成分截然不同，請勿混淆。
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the COVAXX vaccine has attracted some big-name backers, including endorsements from entrepreneur Peter Diamandis, who co-founded the company, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. In March, the company raised $1.35 billion in a private placement, according to U.S. securities filings. 從2020年新冠疫情逐漸升高開始，這支COVAXX 疫苗就吸引了一些重量級人士的支持，包含來自創業家彼得戴曼迪斯 （Peter Diamandis，該公司的共同創辦人）以及勵志演說家羅賓斯（Tony Robbins）的背書。根據他們三月向美國證券交易委員會所提交的文件，那時該公司已經私募了13.5億美金。
Prince's involvement in vaccine distribution, which has not been previously reported, sheds new light on the race to profit from the uncertainties of the pandemic. Vaccine supply deals have often been forged through direct government ties to drugmakers, global health organizations or diplomatic channels. 普林斯這段之前不為人知，爭取疫苗銷售權的行動，更讓人看清面對疫情，人心惶惶時，各方爭發疫苗財的真貌。疫苗供應方面的交易，往往取決於製藥廠、世界衛生組織或外交管道，是否能直接與政府打上交道。
Reuters couldn't determine how Prince first became associated with COVAXX, or whether he has brokered any vaccine supply deals. 路透社無法得知普林斯從何時開始與COVAXX掛鉤，或他是否曾經擔任任何疫苗供應交易的掮客。
Prince did not respond to questions for this story. A source close to Prince said that "Erik has been helping a vaccine manufacturer set up distribution," but declined to give details. 普林斯並未回應記者針對以上情節所提出的問題。一位接近普林斯的人士僅說「Erik（普林斯）已經在協助一家疫苗製造商設置銷售管道」但拒絕說明更多細節。
Diane Murphy, a public relations consultant for Vaxxinity Inc, which owns COVAXX, declined to answer questions related to Prince. In a statement to Reuters, she said that the company has "accepted introductions from a variety of private, public and non-profit intermediaries, both formally and informally." COVAXX 母公司Vaxxinity 公司的公關顧問墨菲（暫譯， Diane Murphy）拒絕回答與普林斯有關的提問。她只在對路透社發表的一張紙上聲明中說，該公司已經「正式或非正式地，與一些來自私人、政府或非營利機構的中間人有了初步的接觸。」
'DOLLARS PER DOSE' 每劑疫苗的佣金
Prince has made headlines for years, first as chief executive of Blackwater, whose security guards fatally shot more than a dozen Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007. After he left Blackwater, Prince pushed to privatize the war in Afghanistan by having contractors fight instead of the U.S. military and became embroiled in an investigation into possible collusion between the Trump election campaign and the Russian government. 普林斯的名字多年來常上報紙頭版，首先是因為2007年他還身為黑水公司總裁時，他私人保鑣在巴格達射死了十多位伊拉克百姓。他離開黑水公司之後，又推動在阿富汗雇用傭兵，來代替美國軍人打仗，後來又捲入川普選舉時的通俄門。
Prince sought to recruit a close associate, the late Paul Behrends, a former Republican congressional staffer and lobbyist who represented Blackwater for over two years, to help in the COVAXX project. 普林斯本想招募已故的親密夥伴布倫茲（暫譯，Paul Behrends）協助COVAXX 計畫，因為布倫茲曾在共和黨眾議院中擔任幕僚，並為黑水公司遊說超過兩年。
In a series of text messages to Behrends, Prince described the potential for profit from selling the vaccines. 普林斯在一系列發給布倫茲的簡訊中，這樣形容銷售該疫苗可獲利的潛力：
"There's room for a couple dollars per dose in commissions," Prince said in a Nov. 9 text to Behrends. He shared with Behrends a "Letter of Authorization" on COVAXX letterhead signed by senior vice president Brandon Schurter as proof of his distribution deal. Schurter did not respond to requests for comment. 普林斯在11月9日寫給布倫茲的簡訊中說：「每劑疫苗的佣金可達2美元」。普林斯還跟布倫茲分享了一封寫在COVAXX官方信箋，並由該公司資深副總舒特（暫譯，Brandon Schurter）簽字的「授權書」，證明他已獲得銷售權。針對以上事件，舒特本人並未回應路透社的提問。
The October 2020 letter said that an entity called Windward Capital, with an address in Abu Dhabi, was authorized to "assist in the process of creating distribution networks." Reuters could not find a Windward Capital registered in Abu Dhabi. But a company called Windward Holdings that handles "professional, scientific and technical activities" is listed there, with Erik Prince the sole named shareholder. 在該封寫於2020年10月的信中，普林斯宣稱已經在阿布扎比成立了一家名為「Windward 資產」的公司，被授權來「協助建立銷售網」。路透社無法在阿布扎比找到一間註冊為「Windward 資產」的公司，但找到了一間名為「Windward 控股」，目標在「處理專業方面、科學方面與技術方面活動」的公司，並且普林斯是該公司唯一掛名的股東。
Prince is also the managing member of a corporate entity called Windward Wyoming LLC, which says it has a "global distribution" deal with COVAXX, according to records of non-public business agreements seen by Reuters. The company was formed in October 2020, public incorporation records in Wyoming show. 普林斯同時也是一家名為「懷俄明州Windward 股份有限公司」的總經理。據路透社所見過，一份非公開的商業協定中說，該公司成立的目標為「在全球銷售COVAXX疫苗」。根據懷俄明州的官方資料，該公司成立於2020年10月。
Lawyers and other officials affiliated with the various Windward entities did not respond to requests for comment. 以上名為Windward的兩間公司，其律師及相關負責人都未回應路透社就以上所發出的提問。
Prince and Behrends were negotiating how to carve up prospective sales territories by country, said Barry Angeline, a friend of Behrends. But their possible collaboration was cut short in December, when Behrends died. 布倫茲的一位朋友安吉林（暫譯，Barry Angeline）說，普林斯和布倫茲曾經協商過，當如何針對不同國家的地區而提高疫苗的銷售量，但此合作之可能性因12月布倫茲過世而告吹。
Vaxxinity consultant Murphy told Reuters the company has a "focus on the developing market" – including the many countries that have been unable to acquire the shots made by global drugmakers and stockpiled by wealthier nations. Vaxxinity 的顧問墨菲告訴路透社，該公司「專注於開發中國家的市場」— 包含那些無法透過全球製藥廠得到疫苗，或被富有國家囤積，以致無法取得疫苗的國家。
HIGH-PROFILE BACKERS 聲名顯赫的支持者
COVAXX was formed in early 2020 as a subsidiary of United Biomedical Inc (UBI), a maker of diagnostic tests and veterinary vaccines, to address the coronavirus pandemic. In April, the company announced it was being consolidated into a new holding corporation called Vaxxinity. COVAXX的母公司United Biomedical Inc (UBI)公司，原本是製造檢驗試劑及動物疫苗的，於2020年初期分出子公司COVAXX，以對抗新冠疫情。四月時，該官司宣布被合併進入一家新的控股公司，名為Vaxxinity.
COVAXX's backers were quick to publicize the vaccine's potential beginning in July, based on early tests in animals, and before the first clinical trials in people began in Taiwan. COVAXX的支持者從七月起，就已經開始大肆宣傳該疫苗的潛力，根據的不過是早期的動物實驗數據，甚至早在以台灣人首次進行臨床人體實驗之前。
Diamandis, who is listed as a co-founder of Vaxxinity, wrote in a July 30 post on his personal blog that the vaccine was safe for patients and likely effective in the elderly. He told Reuters he made it clear in those posts that his assertions were based on previous trial results of other vaccines developed by the company. 列名Vaxxinity共同創辦人的戴曼迪斯，2020年7月30日於自己私人部落格上宣稱，該疫苗不但可供病人安全接種，並且在年長者身上也有效。他告訴路透社說，他在部落格上清楚說明了，那些是根據自己公司「其他」疫苗「過去」實驗的結果而認定的。
A few weeks later, Robbins, the self-help coach, held a webinar promoting COVAXX titled "The most powerful vaccine you've never heard of." Robbins said in the video that he was one of the company owners. "I've invested in the company, so everyone knows. Because I've been blown away by seeing these results," he said. 幾週之後，有「自助教練」之稱的羅賓斯舉辦了一場網路論壇，來宣傳COVAXX，稱其為「你平生未見，最威力強大的疫苗」。羅賓斯在該影片中聲稱自己是該公司所有人之一，還說：「我要在這裡告訴大家，我投資這家公司，因為親眼目睹了施打這疫苗的神效。」
Robbins "remains an investor," his spokeswoman Jennifer Connelly said in a statement to Reuters. She added, "Mr. Robbins is not involved in the management or daily operations." 羅賓斯的女發言人康納莉（暫譯，Jennifer Connelly ）在一篇給路透社的聲明中說「羅賓斯直到如今仍然是該公司的一位投資者，但他並未參與該公司日常的運作管理。」
In October, COVAXX and shipping giant Maersk announced a partnership to provide global transport of the vaccine as soon as it becomes available. The Maersk official quoted in the release, Rob Townley, said the company recognized the urgent need to safely deliver COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. COVAXX 和全球航運巨擘「快桅」公司於十月宣布合夥，將在疫苗上市後，以最快速度供應至全球。「快桅」公司的塔利（暫譯，Rob Townley）並在該聲明中說該公司認知到當務之急乃是將新冠疫苗安全運至全球各地。
Townley was briefly an aide to former U.S. Army general Michael Flynn during Flynn's short tenure as Trump's National Security Adviser. In an interview, Townley said he knows Prince but couldn't discuss Prince's involvement. 塔利曾經在川普總統任命佛林（Michael Flynn）擔任美國國家安全顧問的短短期間，短暫擔任過佛林的幕僚。塔利在一場訪問中說，他認識普林斯，但對普林斯所參與的事務不予置評。
Data on how well the vaccine works is still pending. In an email to Reuters, Vaxxinity’s Murphy said the company had completed the Phase 1 trial of 60 volunteers aged 20 to 55 in Taiwan, and is conducting a new study of 3,800 people there, including teens and elderly participants. The company plans larger trials in Brazil and India later this year. 該疫苗的果效尚有待數據證明。Vaxxinity 的墨菲在發給路透社的一封電子郵件中說，該公司已經結束在台灣針對60名，20-55歲志願者的第一期實驗。現在正在台灣進行為數3800人，包含青少年及年長者的新實驗。今年下半年計畫在巴西和印度展開更大規模的實驗。
Reporting by Aram Roston in Washington and Lisa Barrington in Abu Dhabi; Editing by Michele Gershberg
Erik Prince, the founder of controversial private military firm Blackwater and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, jumped into the COVID-19 business late last year with a deal to distribute