EU eyes smallpox vaccine for monkeypox: regulator

• Monkeypox is related to smallpox, killed millions around the world every year
• The WHO says more than 550 monkeypox cases, confirmed in 30 countries
• The United States has stated that it has approximately 1,000 doses of Imvanex,

The European Union’s drug watchdog is in talks with the manufacturer of a vaccine against deadly smallpox to expand its use to monkeypox, a  senior EU official said Thursday.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that it was working with the Imvanex jab manufacturer “out of precaution” to ensure that supplies were available if needed.

“Despite the outbreak being rather unprecedented in Europe, at present this is not a public health emergency,” EMA vaccines chief Marco Cavaleri said.

Monkeypox is related to smallpox, which killed millions around the world every year before it was eradicated in 1980, but has far less severe symptoms.

The WHO says more than 550 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in 30 countries outside the West African nations where it is endemic since the start of May.

Imvanex, made by Danish firm Bavarian Nordic, was authorized by the EMA in 2013 for smallpox, but the maker did not apply at the time for its use against monkeypox.

Read more: Monkeypox status: Over 550 confirmed cases reported from 30 countries, says WHO

“The EMA emergency task force is in talks with (maker) to prepare for the submission of data that could support an extension of indication” to monkeypox, Cavaleri said.

Animal data showed that Imvanex was “effective” against monkeypox, he added.

The vaccine would most likely be given to close contacts of people infected with monkeypox to prevent its spread.

The EMA hoped the firm could apply “as soon as possible”, Cavaleri said, without giving a timeframe.

The watchdog was also ready to discuss how to increase manufacturing capacity, given that smallpox jabs are in short supply due to its eradication more than four decades ago, he said.

The European Commission told AFP last week that it was already working on centralizing purchases of monkeypox vaccines and treatments.

The United States has stated that it has approximately 1,000 doses of Imvanex, which is also known as JYNNEOS and is already approved for smallpox.

Read more: Africa warns on vaccine hoarding amid monkeypox outbreak