With its rapid development of the Jynneos vaccine, Bavarian Nordic helped curb the first outbreak of mpox, formerly monkeypox, in 2022 and 2023. Now, the Danish company is gearing up for another response.
After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency for the second time in 25 months, Bavarian Nordic said it could ramp up manufacturing to supply 2 million doses this year and 8 million doses in 2025 to contain the virus in Africa.
The company also said it is in discussion with the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand manufacturing of the shot on the continent.
“Bavarian Nordic is working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the equitable access to our mpox vaccine,” Paul Chaplin, Bavarian Nordic’s CEO, said in a release. “We are prepared to work with the Africa CDC and the international community to play our role in protecting and saving lives around the world and to contain the latest outbreak.”
Since the WHO announcement on Wednesday, Bavarian Nordic’s share price has shot up by 48%. It is the lone company with an approved mpox vaccine.
The current outbreak has been detected in 13 countries in Africa with 96% of the cases in Congo. Of the 17,000 cases this year in Africa, there have been 512 deaths. Two strains have been found—clade 1 and clade 1b—which are more deadly and are disproportionally affecting children. In June of this year, the WHO said that kids under age 5 account for 39% of the mpox cases and 62% of the deaths.
Chaplin said that the company is conducting clinical studies in Africa to expand the use of Jynneos to children and is working with regulators to gain approval for its use in adolescents. The vaccine was endorsed in 2019 by the FDA and in 2022 in Europe where it is marketed as Imvanex.
For most who are infected, mpox causes mild flu-like symptoms and a rash, but like COVID-19, it can rapidly progress into a life-threatening disease. Mpox and smallpox are caused by viruses in the genus Orthopoxvirus.
Earlier this month, Bavarian Nordic signed a $157 million contract with the U.S. to replenish its stockpile of Jynneos vaccines. In April, the company also debuted its commercial launch of Jynneos in the U.S. for people at risk of infection from mpox. Those include men who have sex with men and others who engage in risky sex practices, according to the CDC.
Bavarian Nordic reported sales of Jynneos at 5 billion Danish kroner ($720 million) in 2023, accounting for more than 70% of the company’s revenue.