• Source:JND
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Serum Institute of India (SII), based in Pune, will manufacture Danish vaccine company Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine—MVA-BN—for the Indian market, according to the latter's statement on Monday regarding the license and manufacturing deal inked between the two businesses.

“… Under the agreement, the companies will undertake a technology transfer of the current manufacturing process for MVA-BN® to SII to enable supply for the Indian market, for which SII obtains the license to sell and distribute the vaccine,” said the Bavarian Nordic statement.

“Furthermore, upon the relevant regulatory approvals, the agreement enables SII to perform contract manufacturing of MVA-BN for Bavarian Nordic which expands the manufacturing capacity, ensuring global access even during outbreaks of mpox.”

The monkeypox virus causes mpox, a viral illness. People may catch the virus from one another, mostly through intimate contact, and from the environment, sometimes through objects and surfaces that an infected person has touched. Additionally, it can spread from infected animals to humans through contact.

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According to the Danish vaccine manufacturer, the Bavarian Nordic-SII license deal is based on a profit-sharing model with no related upfront or milestone payments. In India, SII would be in charge of obtaining and preserving regulatory approval for the vaccination. The costs of the technology transfer will be borne by the parties themselves.

“Bavarian Nordic continues to explore additional opportunities to establish partnerships to ensure the equitable access to MVA-BN, including with local African manufacturers,” read the statement.

The WHO, on August 14, deemed mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In September, India reported the first case of mpox disease caused by the "clade 1b" strain, prompting WHO to designate the infection a global health emergency.

India reported the first case of mpox sickness caused by the "clade 1b" strain, prompting WHO to declare the infection a global health emergency in September. This was the second instance of the viral disease recorded this year. The first case recorded in the country was associated with the strain that was prominent during the 2023 global pandemic.