Bavarian Nordic has announced a new order worth $63m from the US government for the additional production and supply of Jynneos smallpox/mpox vaccine.
The vaccine company secured the order from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The order is to produce more bulk products and final freeze-dried doses of the Jynneos.
Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) is the only non-replicating mpox vaccine approved in several countries, including the US as Jynneos, in Canada as Imvamune, and in the European Union (EU)/UK as Imvanex.
In the EU, it is also approved for adolescents aged 12-17. During the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, Bavarian Nordic expanded access to the vaccine in over 70 countries worldwide.
The bulk product, which makes up most of the contract value, will help replenish inventory used to manufacture vaccines in response to the 2022 mpox outbreak.
According to Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic, this replenishment is crucial for fulfilling an existing contract for a next-generation freeze-dried version of the smallpox vaccine.
In addition, the contract will enable the production of one million freeze-dried vaccines using parts of the bulk inventory.
The bulk vaccine is set to be manufactured next year, taking international orders into account for the ongoing mpox response. Deliveries of the freeze-dried doses are expected in 2026.
Bavarian Nordic president and CEO Paul Chaplin said: “As a long-standing partner with the US government, we applaud their strong leadership in securing the long-term availability of vaccines for public preparedness.
“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.”
Since 2003, Bavarian Nordic has partnered with the American government to develop and supply a non-replicating smallpox vaccine.
The US health regulator approved Jynneos in 2019 for preventing both smallpox and mpox infections.
In 2017, BARDA awarded Bavarian Nordic a 10-year contract for freeze-dried vaccines.
Under this contract, the vaccine company had produced bulk vaccines equivalent to about 13 million freeze-dried doses, pending filling, and supply. This production is covered by a $299m option, with $119m awarded in 2022.
The first bulk replenishment contract was awarded in 2023, with more contracts to follow in 2024.
Last month, the vaccine maker secured a $157m contract for Jynneos vaccine production in the US.
