The manufacturing agreement is the first step in working together to provide

Chikungunya Vaccine to low-and middle-income countries

The initial technology transfer will be followed by commercial manufacturing,

which has the potential to generate up to 300 new jobs at BE

Biological E. Limited announced a strategic partnership with Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) to expand access to Bavarian Nordic’s Chikungunya Vaccine in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

This partnership comprises a technology transfer of the current drug product manufacturing process for the Chikungunya Vaccine, with the option to transfer the drug substance process at a later stage. To that effect, the companies have reached an agreement to expand their capacity to provide future supplies to endemic low- and middle-income countries.

The initial technology transfer would be followed by regulatory approval applications and commencement of commercial manufacturing thereafter. BE's existing facilities in Genome Valley, Hyderabad will be augmented to make the Chikungunya Vaccine. The manufacturing of Chikungunya Vaccine at BE is expected to generate up to 300 new jobs.

This agreement has come about as Bavarian Nordic continues to explore opportunities in line with its strategy to provide global access to its Chikungunya Vaccine via partners for markets outside the US and Europe. The recent and first approval of the vaccine in the US as the first Chikungunya Vaccine for persons as young as 12 years and the positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use have demonstrated the viability to expand regulatory approvals beyond these markets.

Ms. Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E. Limited, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Bavarian Nordic to help expand the availability of their Chikungunya Vaccine in low and middle-income countries. The scale of our manufacturing and successful track record in providing global access to vaccines is synergistically aligned with Bavarian Nordic via this strategic partnership. We are committed to utilising our advanced & efficient manufacturing technologies to meet health needs in endemic regions and we are excited that our collaborative efforts will soon help improve public health in preventing Chikungunya in various parts of the world.”

“We are pleased to announce our first collaboration to expand global access to our Chikungunya Vaccine and also our first partnership with Biological E, who have solid expertise and comprehensive experience in supplying vaccines for improving public health worldwide,” said Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic. “Expanding supply is a prerequisite for our ability to address the increasing need for solutions to prevent Chikungunya in vulnerable populations in endemic regions, and we are dedicated to pursuing strong partnerships that can help us achieve this goal.”