Bavarian Nordic Increases Mpox Vaccine Forecast Amid Global Health Crisis

Bavarian Nordic announced it could supply 13 million doses of its mpox vaccine by 2025, up from an earlier forecast of 10 million. The company is exploring options to expand capacity and boost supply by an additional 50 million doses. This development coincides with WHO's recent global health emergency declaration on mpox.

Bavarian Nordic announced on Thursday it could produce 13 million doses of its mpox vaccine by the end of 2025, surpassing the earlier estimate of 10 million doses, and is investigating avenues to significantly expand production capacity.

The Danish biotechnology firm disclosed that additional measures could boost vaccine output by a further 50 million doses within the next 12 to 18 months, contingent on regulatory approvals and market demand. "It hinges primarily on demand. Should the demand materialize and conditions align, we can potentially increase production by another 50 million doses," stated Rolf Sass Sorensen, head of investor relations at Bavarian Nordic.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency last month, but vaccination efforts have been stymied by supply shortages. Sorensen noted that increasing supply also depends on ongoing partnerships with Africa and other regions for manufacturing transfers and the adoption of higher-yield production techniques. "We might receive help with fill-and-finish processes," Sorensen added. As a result, some existing contracts with the U.S. government are being delayed to 2025 to cater to broader market needs. Last week, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the focal point of the current mpox outbreak, received its initial batch of vaccines.

(With inputs from agencies.)