The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that it will provide about $11 million to support the first US-based fill-and-finish effort of Bavarian Nordic's monkeypox vaccine.

The move follows Bavarian Nordic's Aug 18 announcement of an agreement with Michigan-based Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) to establish the first US location to fill and finish the Jynneos vaccine.

In its statement today, HHS said the agreement between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and GRAM will allow the company to buy additional equipment, as well as to hire and train staff. The support will allow production to begin later this year, months ahead of the 9-month timeline typical for starting up fill-and-finish operations.

Xavier Becerra, HHS secretary, said, "This new agreement solidifies a domestic manufacturing capability that will bring us more vaccine sooner to end this outbreak.

In July, HHS placed orders for 5 million vials of Jynneos from its earlier bulk vaccine order stored in Denmark. And as part of the contract, Bavarian Nordic agreed to a technology transfer that would allow a US-based contract manufacturer to fill and finish 2.5 million Jynneos vials.

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