Danish biotech under fire for alleged profiteering from vaccines amid global Mpox crisis

Medical News: In the wake of the ongoing global health crisis surrounding the spread of Mpox (Monkeypox), concerns have surfaced regarding the actions of Bavarian Nordic, a Danish biotechnology company responsible for producing one of the only approved vaccines for the disease. Critics, including the U.S.-based watchdog group Public Citizen, have accused the company of prioritizing profits over public health, raising questions about the roles of international regulatory bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in overseeing these practices.


Danish biotech under fire for alleged profiteering from vaccines amid global Mpox crisis

Bavarian Nordic’s Pricing Under Scrutiny
Bavarian Nordic’s pricing strategy for its Mpox vaccine, Jynneos (MVA-BN), has been at the center of controversy. The company’s reluctance to disclose pricing details has fueled suspicions that it may be exploiting the crisis for financial gain. Peter Maybarduk, the director of Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines program, expressed deep concern over the company’s actions in a letter, accusing Bavarian Nordic of putting profits above the needs of those affected by the outbreak.
https://www.citizen.org/article/letter-to-bavarian-nordic-urging-equitable-access-to-mpox-vaccine/
 
“Bavarian Nordic’s refusal to adjust its pricing and ensure broad access to the vaccine raises serious ethical questions,” Maybarduk told mainstream media and Medical News outlets, “We fear that the company may be exploiting the latest global health crisis, putting profits over people.”
 
These accusations have emerged against the backdrop of a growing Mpox outbreak, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which prompted the WHO to declare a global emergency. The disease has since spread to neighboring countries, with cases recently reported in Thailand and Sweden.
 
Price of MPox Vaccines in Thailand out of reach for most Thais.
It was reported that in Thailand, the Red Cross is selling the Mpox vaccines for Thai Baht 8,500 per dose!
 
At private hospitals in the country, the cost is almost double!

Considering most of the average local sex workers are forced into the trade due to poverty coupled with many only making a profit of about Thai Baht 500 to1000 per time for their clients to use any of their orifices, the full course of the Mpox vaccines (two doses are need within a 28-day span) at Bt 16,000 baht will make it out of reach for many! Interestingly some of the local politicians in the country have not brought this issue up. 
 
The Role of International Organizations
The WHO’s declaration of a global health emergency has unders cored the urgent need for a coordinated international response to the Mpox outbreak. However, the lack of vaccine access in the countries most affected by the disease has sparked fears of a repeat of the inequities that characterized the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Critics argue that international organizations like the WHO, the U.S. FDA, and the ECDC should take a more active role in ensuring that vaccines are accessible and affordable to all countries, especially those in the Global South. The perceived inaction or complacency of these organizations has led some to question whether there may be corruption or undue influence at play.
 
A Troubling Precedent: PAHO and Bavarian Nordic
Concerns about Bavarian Nordic’s pricing practices are not new. In 2022, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) sought to procure Mpox vaccines despite the company’s refusal to offer a single low price for all PAHO Member States. This led to the vaccine being significantly more expensive than other vaccines available through PAHO’s Revolving Fund, a bulk purchasing mechanism designed to ensure affordable access to vaccines for all member states.

The high cost of the Jynneos vaccine has had serious implications for global public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Africa CDC, for example, has estimated that it needs 10 million doses to contain the current outbreak. However, the high price of the vaccine reported to be around US$120 per dose makes it prohibitively expensive for many African nations.

“Given Bavarian Nordic’s troubling approach to pricing with PAHO, we remain concerned about the pricing implications for group procurement by Africa CDC and other multilateral purchasers,” Maybarduk stated. “This approach could have wider ramifications for the global public health response.”
 
The Need for Transparency and Accountability
As the Mpox crisis continues to unfold, there is a growing call for greater transparency and accountability from Bavarian Nordic and other vaccine manufacturers. Public health experts and advocacy groups are urging the company to adopt a more equitable pricing strategy, particularly for LMICs.They warned against underestimating the pandemic potential of Mpox and called for a more robust global response.
 
“Africa CDC has estimated that it needs 10 million doses to stop the current outbreak. But as was the case with the Covid vaccines, mpox vaccines are in the hands of the world’s richest countries and companies,” they warned. “An agreement between Africa CDC, the European Union, and Bavarian Nordic has already been reached for the procurement and rapid distribution of about 200,000 doses, but many more are needed.”
 
The experts also highlighted the lack of a clear commitment from Bavarian Nordic to make these doses affordable for African countries. The company has indicated that it could manufacture up to 10 million doses by next year if purchase orders are made, but there is little assurance that these vaccines will be accessible to the nations that need them most.
 
Calls for Regulatory Oversight
Amid these concerns, there are increasing demands for regulatory bodies like the WHO, the U.S. FDA, and the ECDC to investigate Bavarian Nordic’s pricing practices and ensure that they are not contributing to global health inequities. There is also a growing push for these organizations to take a more active role in negotiating fair vaccine prices and ensuring that vaccines are distributed equitably.
 
Maybarduk and others have called on Bavarian Nordic to reconsider its approach and commit to a more public health-focused strategy. This would include providing not-for-profit or discounted pricing to LMICs, as well as publishing delivery schedules and prices to ensure transparency.
 
The letter from Public Citizen also urged Bavarian Nordic to ensure that any technology transfers related to the production of the Jynneos vaccine include manufacturers in the Global South and go beyond just fill-and-finish operations. By working with manufacturers in LMICs, Bavarian Nordic and its partners could help scale up low-cost production and improve global access to the vaccine.
 
Conclusion
As the global Mpox crisis continues to escalate, the actions of companies like Bavarian Nordic are coming under increased scrutiny. The allegations of profiteering and the lack of transparency in vaccine pricing have raised serious ethical concerns and highlighted the need for greater oversight from international regulatory bodies.
 
For the latest Mpox News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/chinese-researchers-warn-that-current-vaccines-are-inefficient-in-protecting-against-emerging-mpox-virus
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/norwegian-doctors-warn-that-mpox-vaccines-can-cause-generalized-pustular-psoriasis-in-some