Bavarian Nordic Awarded Contract Options from the U.S. Government for Production and Supply of Freeze-dried Smallpox/Mpox Vaccines
May 6, 2025
Bavarian Nordic has secured a $143.6 million expansion of its contract with the U.S. government to supply freeze-dried JYNNEOS® smallpox/mpox vaccines, following FDA approval of the formulation in March 2025. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) exercised options to convert existing vaccine stock and support long-term shelf life, with deliveries expected in 2026. The freeze-dried version offers logistical advantages for national stockpiles. Since 2003, Bavarian Nordic has partnered with the U.S. on vaccine preparedness, and this latest investment underscores continued federal commitment to bolstering biosecurity and ensuring future mpox and smallpox response capacity.
On May 6, 2025, Bavarian Nordic announced a significant expansion of its longstanding collaboration with the U.S. government to enhance national preparedness against mpox and smallpox. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, exercised contract options worth $143.6 million to support the manufacturing and supply of a newly FDA-approved freeze-dried formulation of the JYNNEOS® vaccine. This move will facilitate the conversion of existing bulk vaccine into doses with extended shelf life, crucial for long-term strategic stockpiling.
Approved in March 2025, the freeze-dried version of JYNNEOS offers key benefits over the liquid-frozen version—namely improved stability, easier transport and storage, and enhanced readiness for future public health emergencies. Deliveries are expected in 2026. The additional revenue from this agreement raises the secured portion of Bavarian Nordic’s Public Preparedness business for 2025 to DKK 2.65 billion.
Since 2003, Bavarian Nordic has been a critical U.S. partner in biopreparedness, supplying JYNNEOS to protect against smallpox and mpox, especially in populations with weakened immune systems. JYNNEOS was the first non-replicating smallpox vaccine developed under Project BioShield, a U.S. initiative to rapidly develop and procure medical countermeasures against biological threats.
The freeze-dried formulation's approval and BARDA’s continued investment demonstrate strategic foresight in response readiness. With mpox declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, expanding vaccine stockpiles and improving vaccine technology is more urgent than ever. This investment reinforces the importance of public-private partnerships in safeguarding national health and exemplifies how scientific innovation can be swiftly translated into real-world impact. As mpox and other infectious threats persist, ensuring robust countermeasures remains essential to protecting public health.