Bavarian Nordic, a company based in Denmark, has recently secured a significant contract worth $156.8 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the U.S. This contract is aimed at manufacturing additional bulk product for their smallpox/mpox vaccine, JYNNEOS®.
The contract includes $139.7 million for manufacturing the bulk product in 2024, which will help replenish the inventory used during the mpox outbreak in 2022. This replenishment is crucial for fulfilling the company’s commitment to supply freeze-dried versions of the vaccine for smallpox preparedness in the U.S.
In addition to the manufacturing contract, approximately $17 million has been allocated for additional services from 2025 to 2027, including storage of vaccine doses in the U.S. This reaffirms Bavarian Nordic’s role in supporting U.S. biological preparedness efforts.
Paul Chaplin, the President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, expressed his appreciation for the U.S. government’s commitment to preparedness and emphasized the importance of their vaccine in protecting citizens against public health threats. The company’s financial guidance for 2024 remains unchanged despite this new contract.
Bavarian Nordic has a long-standing partnership with the U.S. government for the development, manufacturing, and supply of smallpox vaccines. Their JYNNEOS® vaccine, approved by the FDA in 2019, is crucial for protecting populations from both smallpox and mpox infections.
The company had previously supplied liquid-frozen versions of the vaccine for emergency use, with most doses now expired. BARDA’s support for developing a freeze-dried version with a longer shelf-life led to a ten-year contract with Bavarian Nordic for the supply of freeze-dried vaccines. The recent contract will facilitate the fulfillment of this supply agreement.
Overall, Bavarian Nordic expects significant revenue from its Public Preparedness business in 2024, along with earnings from Travel Health vaccines and contract work. The company’s focus on innovative vaccines underscores its commitment to global public health preparedness.
With its mission to protect and save lives through vaccines, Bavarian Nordic continues to be a key player in providing essential vaccines for government preparedness and public health initiatives. Their expertise in smallpox and mpox vaccines highlights their dedication to enhancing global health security.