Bavarian Nordic A/S secured $83 million in funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) this week, marking a second investment into its JYNNEOS smallpox vaccine from the U.S. government.
This follows a $106 million investment into the vaccine made in April, which covered both the manufacturing of bulk vaccines and the supply of liquid-frozen doses. This puts the total investment into JYNNEOS at approximately $200 million, meant to see this vaccine manufactured in 2021. Another $12 million is expected to be awarded in 2021 for the supply of additional doses.
“We are pleased to continue our strong public-private partnership with the U.S. government on the development and supply of biological countermeasures,” Paul Chaplin, president and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said. “This latest support from BARDA will allow the first liquid-frozen JYNNEOS doses to be manufactured in our new commercial fill and finish plant and make the vaccine available for first-line responders for an improved preparedness against smallpox and monkeypox.”
These options extend a contract first awarded to Bavarian Nordic in 2017. Doses created under the contract will be supplied to the U.S. government, including a freeze-dried version of the JYNNEOS vaccine in years to come.