Bavarian Nordic Returns to the Spotlight as Mpox Outbreak Reaches Emergency State

WHO Declaration:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Vaccine Production:

Bavarian Nordic is gearing up to produce up to 10 million doses of its mpox vaccine by 2025, with an additional manufacturing capacity of two million doses for 2024.

Immediate Response:

HERA (the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority) has ordered 175,420 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine from Bavarian Nordic for immediate response to the mpox outbreak in Africa. Additionally, Bavarian Nordic will donate 40,000 doses to HERA for distribution to the Africa CDC.

Global Impact:

The outbreak has spread beyond Africa, with the first case of the more dangerous Clade 1b subclade reported in Sweden, indicating the potential for further imported cases in Europe.

Vaccine Distribution:

The Africa CDC has declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security to strengthen and accelerate the public health response against mpox across the African continent. The WHO has requested Bavarian Nordic to submit an Expression of Interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of the vaccine to accelerate its accessibility in African countries.

Economic Impact:

Shares in Bavarian Nordic rose nearly eight percent on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange following the WHO announcement, reflecting the increased demand for the vaccine.

Historical Context:

The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease has since become endemic in parts of West Africa and has caused outbreaks in other regions, including the United States in 2003 and a global outbreak in 2022.