Bavarian Nordic Mpox Vaccine Deal Still Sidelines Equity
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic announced a deal with the Serum Institute of India to increase production capacity for the mpox vaccine MVA-BN, marketed as Jynneos.
Public Citizen has long called on Bavarian Nordic to transfer technology to developing country manufacturers, lower prices and quadruple its pledged supply to UNICEF. Bavarian Nordic still has not disclosed its costs, reduced its prices or explained why it charges UNICEF up to $65 a dose, when developing country manufacturers sell vaccines based on similar technology for $5 or less.
Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines Director Peter Maybarduk issued the following statement:
“The public has invested more than $2 billion developing and supporting Jynneos (MVA-BN). The vaccine should belong to all people, everywhere, available for regional manufacturers to meet health needs.
The world needs more sources of reliable mpox vaccine production, and in that regard, it is helpful that today we have one more. But under this deal, Bavarian Nordic keeps its exclusive control of MVA-BN everywhere outside India, its outrageously high prices intact. That is a far cry from justice, or from the affordable, diverse supply needed to help stoke demand and encourage ambitious campaigns to protect people from mpox.
Technology transfer and independent production, especially with and by African manufacturers, is critically important to support vaccine equity and justice. We are still waiting.”