Health & Beauty

Sweden, June 6 news, Danish biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic has developed and produced the world's only monkeypox vaccine. Now, orders are pouring in from all over the world, and its shares are listed on the stock exchange.

The company's smallpox vaccine is also effective against monkeypox, which has given it international attention. This week, Bavaria Nordic announced that it had signed contracts for vaccine deliveries with several European countries, but did not disclose which countries. Rolf Sass Sörensen, the company's deputy chief executive, said, "We have received requests from all over the world, including Sweden. But it is unclear whether Sweden will actually buy it." So far, the smallpox vaccine is only available in the United States and Canada. Approved as a monkeypox vaccine.

The vaccine, called Imvanex, is applying to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval as a monkeypox vaccine in Europe. But according to Rolf Sass Sörensen, the vaccine does not necessarily need to be approved by the EMA to be used now. "The vaccine was already available for emergency use in the UK last year," he said. Charlotte Bergquist of the Swedish Medicines Agency said the vaccine could also be used for emergency use in Sweden. "The Swedish Public Health Agency, anti-epidemic agencies and infectious disease doctors can vaccinate health care workers or other at-risk groups based on available data if they judge that vaccination is the correct measure."

The Swedish government said on May 26 that it wants to participate in the EU's plan to buy the Imvanex vaccine and the antiviral drug Tecovirimat, and has commissioned the Swedish Public Health Agency and the National Health and Welfare Board to review the number of vaccines and medicines Sweden may need to buy.

Concern over a monkeypox vaccine prompted Bavarian Nordic to list on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. Shares in the company have risen nearly 60% in the past month, but are still down a little more than 19% since the beginning of the year, according to Sweden’s Daily Industry Daily.

Headquartered in Hellerup, Denmark, Bavaria Nordic has R&D facilities in Germany and the United States, and a sales office in Switzerland, with a current production capacity of 30 million doses per year. Rolf Sass Sörensen said that there is no need for a large-scale vaccination like the new crown vaccine, and the plant has enough capacity to meet global demand.