- Bavarian Nordic seeks EU approval to extend its mpox vaccine to adolescents aged 12-17.
- New mpox strain detected in Sweden; potential global spread beyond Africa.
- Clinical trials for younger children to begin in Congo and Uganda later this year.
Bavarian Nordic, a leading Danish biotech firm, has taken a significant step towards combating the global mpox outbreak by seeking European Union approval to extend the use of its mpox and smallpox vaccine to adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.
With the World Health Organization (WHO) having declared mpox a global public health emergency, this move aims to protect a particularly vulnerable demographic—children and teenagers—from the disease.
Bavarian Nordic Expands Mpox Vaccine Efforts Amid Global Outbreak Concerns
In addition to this, Bavarian Nordic is set to launch clinical trials to assess the safety of its vaccine in children aged 2 to 12 years. These trials, partially funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are scheduled to commence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where mpox has already taken a significant toll. The detection of a new mpox strain in Sweden and a suspected case in Pakistan further emphasizes the urgent need for expanded vaccination efforts.
The biotech firm is also preparing for an upcoming clinical trial to evaluate the safety of its vaccine in children aged 2 to 12 years. The trial will be conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, regions heavily impacted by the virus. With partial funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), this effort underscores the global push to extend vaccine protection to younger age groups.
Recent developments have raised alarm, as a new strain of the mpox virus was detected in Sweden, marking its spread outside of Africa, where the virus has caused significant outbreaks. This discovery highlights the potential for a broader global spread of the virus, making the expansion of vaccination efforts even more critical.
Additionally, a suspected case of mpox has emerged in Pakistan, further fueling concerns about the virus’s capacity to reach new regions. The combination of these factors underscores the urgency of approving and expanding the use of vaccines to protect populations at risk, especially children and adolescents.
The expansion of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine to adolescents and the forthcoming trials for younger children represent a critical step in controlling the spread of the virus, particularly as it begins to spread beyond Africa.
“The discovery of a new mpox strain in Sweden and a suspected case in Pakistan underscore the urgent need for expanded vaccination efforts to protect vulnerable populations.”
