SWITZERLAND—Bavarian Nordic has secured a contract worth US$63 million from the U.S. government to enhance the production of bulk product and final freeze-dried doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is designed to combat both smallpox and mpox.
This order, issued by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), is pivotal for replenishing the bulk product inventory, which is crucial for manufacturing one million vaccine doses.
The bulk product constitutes the majority of the contract’s financial commitment and is essential for restocking the inventory that was significantly depleted during the response to the mpox outbreak in 2022.
This replenishment is vital not only to meet the terms of Bavarian Nordic’s existing contract, which mandates the supply of a freeze-dried version of the vaccine for U.S. smallpox preparedness but also to ensure that the U.S. is equipped to handle potential future outbreaks.
The recent deal will facilitate the production of one million freeze-dried vaccines, utilising portions of the newly replenished bulk inventory.
While most of the vaccine is scheduled for manufacture in 2025, the company is already considering international orders to address the ongoing mpox outbreak.
As a result, the delivery of the freeze-dried doses is expected to occur in 2026.
In his remarks regarding this development, Bavarian Nordic’s president and CEO, Paul Chaplin, emphasised the importance of this contract, stating, “This award further strengthens the orders for the public preparedness business for 2025 and beyond and is yet another resounding endorsement of MVA-BN as the leading smallpox/mpox vaccine.”
He highlighted the pressing nature of the current mpox outbreak, which is a stark reminder of the international community’s vulnerability regarding infectious diseases.
He also noted the company’s commitment to assisting governments and organizations not only during the present public health emergency but also in ensuring equitable access to the smallpox/mpox vaccine in the long term.
Marketed under the name JYNNEOS, the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine is a non-replicating formulation approved in various countries, including Canada, the European Union, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
Initially developed as a smallpox vaccine in collaboration with the U.S. government, MVA-BN was designed to ensure a vaccine supply suitable for the entire population, particularly for immunocompromised individuals who are advised against using traditional replicating smallpox vaccines.
The latest development comes on the heels of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approving the use of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine in adolescents, thereby increasing the prospects for its administration within this age group in Africa.
Additionally, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has recently entered an advance purchase agreement with Bavarian Nordic to secure 500,000 doses of the mpox vaccine, further solidifying the vaccine’s role in global public health efforts.
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