CEPIUpdates from CEPI
Regionalizing vaccine manufacturing: a path to equitable access
The stark disparities in vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic were heartbreaking and unsustainable. While rich countries in the north benefited from prompt vaccine availability, those in the Global South were left behind. The need for a new, reformed, regionally oriented approach to sustainable vaccine production as a path to equitable access was obvious.
Against this background, the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC) was established in 2022, co-chaired by CEPI with the United States National Academy of Medicine and the World Economic Forum. As of February 2024, the Collaborative enters a new operative phase with its own secretariat hosted by CEPI to support the goals and needs of regions, countries and corporations. Dr Frederik Kristensen has stepped down from his role as Deputy CEO of CEPI to take up his new role as Managing Director of the RVMC secretariat.
In a new blog, Dr Kristensen outlines where regionalized manufacturing progress has been made, how the RVMC seeks to further bolster these global efforts, and his plans as he takes the helm of the Collaborative.
More updates from CEPI
CEPI and PAHO collaborate to boost regional preparedness against diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential
CEPI announced a new collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), aimed at enhancing regional preparedness and promoting equitable access to vaccines and other health technologies against future outbreak threats in the Americas.
Serum Institute of India joins CEPI global network to boost production of affordable outbreak vaccines
The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SII), has joined CEPI’s network of vaccine producers in the Global South to support more rapid, agile and equitable responses to future public health disease outbreaks.
First-in-human vaccine trial for Nipah virus
In a CEPI-funded trial, the first clinical trial participants received doses of University of Oxford’s vaccine candidate against Nipah, one of the deadliest pathogens known to infect humans.
CEPI partners with Lemonex to advance mRNA vaccine delivery against future pandemic threats
CEPI is providing up to $4.6 million to Lemonex in Korea to advance their innovative mRNA drug delivery technology, DegradaBALL, which has the potential to both minimise post-mRNA vaccination side effects and improve access to future mRNA vaccines.
New partnership aims to advance vaccine against MERS coronavirus
CEPI has partnered with Barinthus Biotherapeutics and the University of Oxford – and the scientists behind one of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccines – to fast-track the development of a vaccine against MERS coronavirus. CEPI will provide up to $34.8 million to Barinthus Bio in addition to funds previously committed to Oxford. If the vaccine is successful it will be made available to LMICs at affordable pricing.
CEPI and PATH strengthen partnership to accelerate development of vaccines against diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential
CEPI and PATH have announced a renewed and strengthened partnership that seeks to speed up the development of vaccines against pathogens with outbreak potential.
CEPI supports novel mRNA vaccine development in Korea to protect against future Disease X
CEPI has partnered with Korea’s Chungbuk National University (CBNU) to advance development of CBNU’s self-amplifying mRNA vaccine technology to better prepare the world for future epidemic and pandemic threats, including an unknown or as-of-yet unidentified pathogen, known as Disease X, in pursuit of the 100 Days Mission.
Accelerating access to the world’s first Chikungunya vaccine
On November 10, 2023, the US FDA approved the first-ever Chikungunya vaccine, developed by Valneva with support from CEPI and the EU. Our funding is supporting technology transfer of drug product to Valneva’s partner, Brazil-based Instituto Butantan, to produce vaccines for LMICs.
CEPI and Moderna harness mRNA technology to advance 100 Days Mission
CEPI and Moderna have announced a new strategic partnership that will harness Moderna’s mRNA rapid-response platform to accelerate epidemic and pandemic vaccine development. The partnership could expand the infectious disease targets for mRNA vaccine technology and strengthen pandemic preparedness and public health efforts in alignment with the 100 Days Mission, a global goal to compress vaccine development timelines to 100 days.
The Viral Most Wanted
There are 25 or so viral families known to have viruses that can infect people and spark epidemics and pandemics. Follow CEPI’s investigators as we explore these viral threats to humankind; join us as we explore The Viral Most Wanted. Written by Kate Kelland, CEPI’s Chief Scientific Writer and author of DISEASE X – The 100 Days Mission to End Pandemics, the series seeks to deepen our understanding of the families of viruses that pose the greatest risk to human life.
CEPI expands partnership with Wageningen Bioveterinary Research to advance clinical trials of Rift Valley fever vaccine in affected countries
CEPI is expanding its partnership with Wageningen Bioveterinary Research to advance clinical trials of a Rift Valley fever vaccine in Kenya and Uganda. With support from the EU Horizon programme, CEPI will invest $25.9 million in these trials, which will be the first studies to assess the safety and immunogenicity of Wageningen Bioveterinary Research’s Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate in countries where the disease is endemic and people are most at risk of infection.
