Emergent BioSolutions expands support for Africa CDC’s Mpox therapeutic trial through PANTHER partnership

ETHIOPIA—Emergent BioSolutions has announced a new collaboration agreement with PANTHER to provide additional financial backing for the Africa CDC-led “Mpox Study in Africa” (MOSA).

The continued partnership aims to strengthen research focused on developing effective therapeutic options for mpox, a viral disease that currently lacks a dedicated antiviral treatment.

Through this agreement, Emergent and PANTHER will help ensure that the study’s momentum is sustained as it expands across the continent.

Launched in 2024, the MOSA trial is a double-blind, platform-adaptive clinical study designed to assess potential treatment candidates for mpox across multiple African countries.

This type of trial enables researchers to evaluate several treatments simultaneously and make data-driven adjustments as results emerge.

The study’s first phase received joint funding from the European Union and the Africa CDC, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) identified as a primary site due to its long-standing experience managing mpox outbreaks and its strong clinical research infrastructure.

In December 2025, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) completed its initial review of safety data after the randomization of the first 50 participants.

The board reported no safety concerns, recommending that the MOSA trial proceed as planned.

This milestone reinforced confidence in the study’s design and execution, marking a significant step toward understanding which treatments may offer real benefits to people living with the disease.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Simon Lowry, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Development at Emergent BioSolutions, commended the Africa CDC, the DRC investigators, and PANTHER for their dedication and collaboration.

He noted that Emergent is proud to contribute to the ongoing advancement of the MOSA trial and emphasized the company’s commitment to working with global research partners to address pressing public health challenges.

By supporting the MOSA initiative, Emergent underscores its broader mission to combat infectious diseases with both scientific innovation and strategic partnership.

The next phase of MOSA will include expanding into additional African countries.

Africa CDC and PANTHER plan to open new sites, including one in Uganda, as the study aims to enroll more patients and reach its next major milestone.

According to Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya, the MOSA trial represents a pivotal effort to generate the clinical evidence needed to inform mpox treatment and strengthen Africa’s research and emergency response capacity.

He highlighted that Africa CDC remains committed to working with partners whose collaboration and financial support are vital to advancing scientific progress and improving preparedness for future health threats.

Data from Africa CDC show that since early 2024, the continent has recorded over 61,383 confirmed mpox cases and 296 deaths across 32 countries.

Africa currently faces circulation of both major mpox clades—Clade I, which is endemic in Central Africa and associated with more severe illness, and Clade II, which predominates in West Africa.

Recent outbreaks have also revealed evolving subclades, including Clades Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb, adding further complexity to disease monitoring and control efforts.