Published Jan 24, 2024 | 8:12 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 24, 2024 | 8:12 PM
Serum Institute of India has joined CEPI's vaccine manufacturing network. (Creative Commons)
In a significant move to enhance global preparedness for disease outbreaks, the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) vaccine manufacturing network. This collaboration aims to facilitate more rapid, agile, and equitable responses to future public health crises, particularly in the Global South.
CEPI is investing up to $30 million to expand SII’s capabilities, enabling the company to swiftly supply investigational vaccines in response to epidemic and pandemic threats. The addition of SII to the CEPI network is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the “100 Days Mission”, a goal set by CEPI, the G7, G20, and industry leaders, which involves developing new vaccines within three months of recognising a pandemic threat.
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, in a statement, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, “SII’s world-renowned manufacturing and rapid response capabilities are poised to play a critical role in enabling swift and equitable access to affordable outbreak vaccines for the Global South. Living in an era of heightened epidemic and pandemic risk, evidenced by the increasing prevalence, speed, and spread of outbreaks of infectious disease, we must prepare to confront these threats head-on to avoid another Covid-like catastrophe in the future.”
CEPI’s manufacturing network focuses on vaccine producers in high-risk areas of the Global South, addressing threats from deadly viruses such as Lassa fever, Nipah, Disease X, and other prioritised pathogens. SII’s proven production capabilities position it as a key player in rapidly supplying investigational vaccines for preclinical and clinical testing, as well as large-scale supply, during outbreaks.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, emphasised the commitment to epidemic preparedness, in the statement. He said, “This collaboration will enable us to respond more rapidly and equitably to public health disease outbreaks, particularly in Global South countries where access to life-saving vaccines can be limited.”
CEPI’s funding will support SII in developing, stockpiling, and licensing new vaccines against CEPI’s priority pathogens. The partnership aims to strengthen epidemic preparedness and increase access to life-saving vaccines at an affordable price.
SII becomes the fourth member of CEPI’s global manufacturing network, joining Aspen in South Africa, Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal, and Bio Farma in Indonesia. With its proven track record, SII responded swiftly to the Sudan ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda in 2022, delivering investigational ChAdOx1 SUDV vaccine in just 80 days.
