The U.S. has ordered an additional 2.5M million monkeypox vaccine doses from Bavarian Nordic (OTCPK:BVNKF).
This is on top of another 2.5M-dose order for Jynneos from earlier this month and a 500K order in June.
Appearing on Bloomberg TV Friday afternoon, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said that the arrival of more vaccines is coming soon. “Hopefully in the next week or so we’ll have hundred of thousands more” doses, he added.
As the number of monkeypox cases in the U.S. rises — as of July 14, there were 1,470, according to CDC data — demand for the vaccine is increasing. There have been widespread reports across the U.S. of demand greatly outstripping supply.
Fauci said that the priority is to get vaccine to those most at risk, which he cited as men who have sex with men.
Responding to a question, Fauci appeared to be against use of Chimerix’s (NASDAQ:CMRX) smallpox antiviral Tembexa (brincidofovir) for monkeypox treatment. Although the CDC has initiated an expanded access protocol for the drug, it has some serious side effects.
Instead, Fauci favors SIGA Technologies’ (NASDAQ:SIGA) TPOXX (tecovirimat), approved in 2018 for smallpox and which was developed along with the National Institutes of Health.
Earlier this week, SIGA (SIGA) said it received orders valued at ~$28M for TPOXX.
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Read More: U.S. orders 2.5M more Bavarian Nordic monkeypox vaccine doses – Bloomberg (NASDAQ:SIGA)