Bavarian Nordic Inks U.S. Fill and Finish Deal for Its Monkeypox Vaccine

Bavarian Nordic has entered into an agreement with Michigan-based Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing for fill and finish production of its Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, which is in short supply.

The U.S. government plans to make available up to 1.8 million doses of the vaccine and the company is partnering with other manufacturers to quickly increase production.

“We continue to explore all available options to increase the amount and speed at which we are able to deliver vaccines across the country,” said Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS.

The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccine on Aug. 11, allowing a one-fifth dose injected between layers of the skin, with two doses given 28 days apart.

The government is also making available 50,000 courses of SIGA Technologies’ antiviral drug Tpoxx (tecovirimat), which is approved to treat smallpox, but not monkeypox.