Smallpox vaccine(Bavarian Nordic A/S)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark I December 16, 2024 I Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced today a license and manufacturing agreement for its MVA-BN ® mpox vaccine with Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (“SII”). Under the agreement, the companies will undertake a technology transfer of the current manufacturing process for MVA-BN ® to SII to enable supply for the Indian market, for which SII obtains the license to sell and distribute the vaccine. Furthermore, upon the relevant regulatory approvals, the agreement enables SII to perform contract manufacturing of MVA-BN for Bavarian Nordic which expands the manufacturing capacity, ensuring global access even during outbreaks of mpox. The license agreement is based on a profit-sharing model with no associated upfront or milestone payments. SII will be responsible for seeking and maintaining regulatory approval of the vaccine in India. The parties will cover their own costs associated with the technology transfer. Bavarian Nordic continues to explore additional opportunities to establish partnerships to ensure the equitable access to MVA-BN, including with local African manufacturers. Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India , said, “ Our mission has always been to deliver high-quality, affordable vaccines worldwide. The recent mpox outbreak underscores the critical need for a swift and coordinated response. Partnering with Bavarian Nordic on the MVA-BN mpox vaccine reflects our shared commitment to protect millions at risk. Leveraging our manufacturing strength and rapid response capabilities, we aim to enhance epidemic preparedness and expand access to life-saving vaccines, safeguarding vulnerable populations and easing the global burden of mpox.” Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic , said: “We are pleased to enter this license and manufacturing agreement for MVA-BN as an mpox vaccine, which represents significant progress in our endeavors to expand access to the vaccine for all populations. 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 SII, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. We continue to work with partners globally to explore additional opportunities for local manufacturing to further support vaccine supply.” About Serum Institute of India Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, is a global leader in vaccine manufacturing, dedicated to providing affordable vaccines worldwide. Present across 170+ countries, including the US, UK, and Europe, SII holds the distinction of being the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. SII’s multifunctional production and one-of-the-largest facility in Manjri, Pune, with an annual capacity of 4 billion doses, has saved over 30 million lives over the years. For more information, visit www.seruminstitute.com . About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. For more information, visit www.bavarian-nordic.com . SOURCE: Bavarian Nordic

FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2024 -- When an outbreak of mpox first hit the United States in 2022, a vaccine called Jynneos was available to help protect the most vulnerable population, gay and bisexual men. Now, there's new data showing which individuals in the LGBTQ+ community were most likely to get vaccinated against the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the 2022 outbreak of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the United States sickened more than 32,000 people and killed 58. Researchers at Rutgers University asked 144 LGBTQ+ adults living in New York and New Jersey whether or not they'd gotten the Jynneos shot. Nine out of 10 (90.9%) of men who answered the survey said they had either availed themselves of at least one dose of the vaccine or they had plans to do so. Among participants who identified as gay, that number rose to 95.1%, the study published recently in the Journal of Community Health found. Income and employment status seemed to matter. For example, nearly 82% of respondents who said they held full-time jobs had either gotten or planned to get the mpox vaccine. Another important factor: HIV status. People who were HIV-positive were more likely to have secured an appointment to get the Jynneos shot versus folks who weren't infected with HIV. That's probably because HIV-positive people are already well-connected to health care services, said study author Kristen Krause , an assistant professor of public health at Rutgers. "If you're already connected to care, it's typically a little bit easier to access [vaccines]," Krause said in a Rutgers news release. That wasn't true for everyone: A little more than half of participants in the survey said it was "moderately or very difficult" to get an mpox vaccination appointment. "A lot of the anecdotes that we'd hear in the city suggested that if appointments were available, they weren't always easily accessible or they filled up really quickly," said Krause, who also helps direct Rutgers' Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies. "People didn't necessarily know where to go," she said, and vaccinations were often only offered "during working hours, which was a problem for some people." The Rutgers team pointed out that Jynneos isn't designed to prevent mpox specifically -- it's actually meant to ward off a closely related virus, smallpox. However, Jynneos does seem to cut the odds for mpox illness, as well. During the 2022 outbreak of mpox in Europe and North America, supplies of Jynneos were stretched thin. This meant that people could often only get one dose of the shot instead of the recommended two, or they received the shot at a lower dose. Even when rationed, however, Jynneos did seem to be effective. One study from the CDC found that unvaccinated people were still 14 times more likely to get mpox versus folks who got some form of the vaccine. It's less clear whether getting vaccinated in 2022 would still help someone in 2024, given that vaccine effectiveness can wane with time. One study, published this fall in the Journal of the American Medical Association , found that mpox vaccine effectiveness seems to diminish considerably over the course of a year , and booster shots might be needed. "Are those people who got vaccinated in 2022 still enjoying some level of immunity there?" Krause asked. “That’s a critical question right now.” Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.