New Delhi, September 19: In a significant step towards combating the global mpox outbreak, Gavi, the Mpox Vaccine Alliance, has signed an agreement with Bavarian Nordic to secure 500,000 doses of the MVA-BN®️ mpox vaccine (marketed as JYNNEOS®️ or IMVANEX®️) for African countries.
“The First Response Fund designed in collaboration with Gavi donors and partners specifically to provide rapid early funding for emergencies such as mpox. Using it today to fund the first direct transaction for vaccines in support of equitable access and the global response, just over a month since mpox was declared a public health emergency, takes us a long way towards our goal of protecting those most at risk,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
– Funding and Availability
The vaccines will funded by Gavi’s First Response Fund, a mechanism established to ensure rapid access to vaccines during health emergencies. The full supply of 500,000 doses expected to be available in 2024.
– Prequalification and Delivery
The MVA-BN vaccine received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO) on September 13. Bavarian Nordic will supply the vaccines to UNICEF, Gavi’s alliance partner, which will then distribute them to affected countries in Africa.
– Global Response
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, emphasized the importance of this agreement in supporting the global response to mpox. She highlighted the First Response Fund’s role in providing rapid funding for emergencies and its commitment to ensuring equitable access to vaccines.
Bavarian Nordic’s Commitment
Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, expressed the company’s dedication to supporting Gavi and other global health partners in their efforts to combat infectious diseases. He noted that the agreement would significantly increase the availability of mpox vaccines for African countries.
In addition to the vaccine purchase agreement, Gavi has implemented several other measures to address the mpox outbreak. These include:
Providing emergency funding to affected countries for vaccine rollout preparations.
Working towards establishing a global mpox vaccine stockpile.
Supporting the development of a sustainable vaccine manufacturing industry in Africa.
About the mpox vaccine
MVA-BN or Modify Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic is the only non-replicating mpox vaccine approve in the U.S., Switzerland and Singapore (marketed as JYNNEOS®), Canada (marketed as IMVAMUNE®), and the EU/EAA and United Kingdom (marketed as IMVANEX®). Originally develop as a smallpox vaccine in collaboration with the U.S. government to ensure the supply of a smallpox vaccine for the entire population. Including immunocompromise individuals who are not recommended vaccination with traditional replicating smallpox vaccines. MVA-BN has indicated for use in the general adult population in individuals considered at risk for smallpox or mpox infection.
Supported by data from a clinical study, conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bavarian Nordic has recently filed a submission to the European Medicines Agency to extend the approval to adolescents 12-17 years of age and is also working with partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in children 2-12 years of age.
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Bavarian Nordic has been a long-term supplier of the vaccine to national stockpiles, and during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, the Company supported governments and supranational organizations by expanding access to the vaccine to more than 70 countries worldwide.
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