Bavarian Nordic and CEPI Partners to Advance Mpox Vaccination in Africa
30 Maggio 2024 - 1:30PM
Bavarian Nordic and CEPI Partners to Advance Mpox Vaccination in
Africa
- African trial could potentially support licensure of mpox
vaccine in endemic countries and expansion of current regulatory
approvals to include children
- CEPI has awarded USD 6.5 million in funding to support the
Phase 2 clinical trial which is projected to start later in
2024
COPENHAGEN, Denmark / OSLO, Norway, May
30, 2024 – Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) and the
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) today
announced a partnership to advance the development of Bavarian
Nordic’s mpox vaccine in children in Africa.
CEPI has awarded USD 6.5 million1 to support a
Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of
the MVA-BN® non-replicating vaccine in children from 2 years to
less than 12 years of age compared to adults aged 18-50 years of
age for the prevention of smallpox, mpox and related orthopoxvirus
infections. Subject to regulatory approvals, the study plans to
enroll a total of approximately 460 healthy individuals in endemic
regions without previous mpox infection or poxvirus vaccination,
who will receive two doses of the MVA-BN vaccine. Bavarian Nordic
will be the sponsor of the trial which will be conducted in one or
more African countries with planned initiation later in 2024.
The new trial follows the publication of a
continental plan by Africa CDC and African Ministries of Health to
strengthen mpox preparedness and response efforts, as well as the
World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework for enhancing
prevention and control of mpox.
Results from this study could provide assurance
of the use of this vaccine in children, and thus support an
extension of the current regulatory approvals for use of the
vaccine in adults to also include children 2-12 years of age.
Importantly, the study will also generate evidence on the vaccine
in endemic African populations and could potentially support
regulatory approval of MVA-BN in endemic countries.
“We now understand that children suffer
disproportionately from mpox, a concerning and neglected disease
that has spread rapidly in recent years” said Dr
Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI. “To address the risk
that children face in DR Congo and other areas where the disease is
endemic, CEPI is supporting this important trial which will provide
key mpox vaccine safety and immunogenicity data in children. The
findings of this study will be crucial in shaping mpox vaccine
strategies to help protect children and potentially to bringing an
end to the widespread outbreak in the DR Congo as well as mpox
outbreaks that may strike in the future.”
“We are very pleased to join forces with CEPI in
their continued efforts to provide equitable access to a
much-needed vaccine against mpox for endemic populations, and we
are firmly committed to working with the local authorities to
develop solutions for vulnerable populations, including children
who sadly represent the vast majority of those affected by the
ongoing mpox outbreak in the DR Congo.” Said Paul Chaplin,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian
Nordic.
About mpox in the DRC and other African
countriesMultiple countries in Central and East Africa are
currently tackling the largest and deadliest known mpox outbreak to
date. Over 6,500 mpox cases and 345 deaths have been reported in
the DR Congo this year alone, with children accounting for the
majority of infections and deaths. Cases have also been confirmed
in the Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic and Liberia.
Mpox was first identified in the DR Congo in
1970. In most cases, mpox symptoms—typically fever and headache,
followed by painful lesions—disappear within a few weeks. However,
for some, mpox can lead to medical complications, such as
bronchopneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, loss of vision, and even
death. The mpox strain behind the current outbreak, known as Clade
I, is estimated to be fatal in around 8-12% of cases.
About the smallpox/mpox
vaccineMVA-BN or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic
is a non-replicating smallpox vaccine and the only mpox vaccine
approved in the U.S. and Switzerland (marketed as JYNNEOS®), Canada
(marketed as IMVAMUNE®), and the EU/EEA and United Kingdom
(marketed as IMVANEX®). Originally developed in collaboration with
the U.S. government to ensure the supply of a smallpox vaccine for
the entire population, including immunocompromised individuals who
are not recommended vaccination with traditional replicating
smallpox vaccines, MVA-BN has been indicated for use in the general
adult population (18 years and older) in individuals considered at
risk for smallpox or mpox infection. During the 2022-2023 mpox
outbreak, the vaccine was granted an Emergency Use Authorization by
the U.S. FDA for both pre- and post-exposure use in
adolescents.
Bavarian Nordic has been a long-term supplier of
the vaccine to the U.S. and Canada as well as several other
countries as part of their national biological preparedness. During
the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, Bavarian Nordic has furthermore
supported governments and supranational organizations by expanding
access to the vaccine to more than 70 countries worldwide.
About CEPICEPI was launched in
2017 as an innovative partnership between public, private,
philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate
the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures
against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to
all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than
50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple
known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s
pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the ‘100 Days
Mission’ to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective,
globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100
days.
About Bavarian NordicBavarian
Nordic is a fully integrated vaccine company with a mission to
protect and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a global
leader in smallpox and mpox vaccines, supplied to governments to
enhance public health preparedness and have a strong portfolio of
vaccines for travelers and endemic diseases. For more information
visit www.bavarian-nordic.com.
Forward-looking statements This
announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve
risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside
of our control, that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include statements
concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events,
performance, and/or other information that is not historical
information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly
qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary
statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We
undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.
ContactsEurope: Rolf Sass
Sørensen, Vice President Investor Relations,
rss@bavarian-nordic.com, Tel: +45 61 77 47 43US: Graham Morrell,
Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com, Tel: +1 781 686
9600
CEPI:press@cepi.net+44 7387 055214
1 Approximate funding figure. Final budget still
pending.
Grafico Azioni Bavarian Nordic AS (TG:BV3)
Storico
Da Ott 2024 a Nov 2024
Grafico Azioni Bavarian Nordic AS (TG:BV3)
Storico
Da Nov 2023 a Nov 2024