Good News For Africa: Bavarian Nordic Signs License With Serum Inst. Of India -- For Low Cost Jabs Against Mpox: Up To Another 3 Million Jabs/Year...

We had predicted this move in early September of this year, when it became clear there was a global shortage of Mpox vaccine stocks, for the wildly-expending outbreak in Congo, and now at least 16 African nations, and 12 others dotting the globe. Outside Africa the cases remain in the single digits per country, but inside it hundreds of thousands are falling ill. So this capacity boost, and at an affordable price point, can come none too soon.

By way of background, the Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest producer of measles and diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus vaccines by volume. Founded in 1966, the Institute makes half of all the vaccines of various sorts that UNICEF purchases. It makes high-volume, high-quality vaccines -- making basic vaccines to save the lives of millions of kids in limited means situations/countries -- so this added capacity makes eminent good sense -- and will doubtless save thousands of children's lives. Here's FiercePharma on it all:

. . .As Bavarian Nordic works to increase global access to its mpox vaccine, the company has inked a manufacturing licensing pact with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to produce MVA-BN for the Indian market.

Under terms of the agreement, SII gets access to the technology for producing the vaccine, which is marketed under the name Jynneos in the U.S., Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland and Canada. . . .

There were no upfront or milestone payments under the agreement. . . . SII is responsible for seeking and keeping regulatory approvals in India, with both parties covering their respective costs related to the technology transfer.

“While there are currently no capacity constraints, scaling of global manufacturing is an important step to ensure the continued equitable access to the vaccine for all countries, and we are pleased to establish this collaboration with the Serum Institute. . . .” Paul Chaplin, Bavarian Nordic’s president and CEO, said in the release. . . .

Onward -- smiling, as the Sonoran desert-highlands call, in two days. . . woot!

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