$11 Million Approved for Vaccine to Prevent Smallpox and Monkeypox

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide approximately $11 million to support the first U.S.-based fill and finish manufacturing of JYNNEOS, a vaccine approved to prevent smallpox and monkeypox. The agreement will aid the company in accelerating the fill and finish manufacturing qualification and production in its recently expanded Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) facility in Grand Rapids, Mich. The funding will allow GRAM to purchase additional equipment necessary for JYNNEOS production and recruit and train additional staff to operate the line. Vaccine production at the facility is expected to be underway later this year, months ahead of the nine-month schedule typical for this type of work.

“Rapidly increasing the supply and safe delivery of monkeypox vaccine to at-risk Americans is a top priority,” said Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell. “BARDA’s [Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority] support helps ensure success in doubling the capacity available to fill and finish this vaccine, improves preparedness for smallpox bioterrorism, and strengthens the security of the U.S. supply chain. Production of JYNNEOS in the U.S. creates jobs and speeds the availability of the vaccine.”