Europe Bolsters COVID-19โ vaccine Supply wihtโข 4 Million dose Hipra Agreement
Europeanโค authorities are expanding their โCOVID-19 vaccine portfolio with an agreement to โคacquire 4 million doses of a recombinant protein vaccine developed by the Spanish pharmaceutical company Hipra, specifically targeting โขthe LP.8.1 variant. the move aims to ensure continued protection, particularly for vulnerable populations, in the face of evolving variants like the โฃone described asโ “Frankenstein” by Europeanโฃ Commissioner for Equality, Preparation โandโ Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
the agreement,announced recently,highlightsโค a commitment โto diversifying the therapeutic arsenalโ against COVID-19 and strengthening Europe’s strategic independence in โvaccine production. David Mastered, President and โฃCEO of hipra,โ stated the contract demonstrates confidence in the company’s ability to contribute to public health,โข emphasizing thatโ the entire process – from research to manufacturing – takes place within Europe, guaranteeing quality and security.
David Nogareda of Hipra added that โขthe agreement reinforces not only the response to current COVID-19 challenges but also Europe’s preparedness for futureโฃ health crises. Commissioner Lahbib echoed this sentiment, noting the vaccine’s “integral approach, โฃfrom research to production, entirely in Europe,” which strengthens โขthe continent’s health security.
Currently, 14 countries participate in the EU โขJoint Acquisition Agreement, a voluntary โmechanism facilitating the jointโข purchase of medical solutions and improving pandemic preparedness.โค This latest contract diversifies access for European citizens by addingโข aโค recombinant protein vaccineโฃ option to existing mRNA vaccines.
The Hipra vaccine, recently granted marketing authorization by the Europeanโ Commission, has demonstrated immunity against the LP.8.1โ variant and cross-protection against emerging variants โincluding NB.1.8.1 and XFG. It is indeed designed for single-dose administration and can be stored between 2ยฐC and 8ยฐCโ for up to 12โ months.
Studies indicate the vaccine is safe, with fewer side effects compared to mRNA โvaccines, and generates a strong, lasting immune response with broad cross-reactivity against emerging variants. The โagreement with Hipra is a critically important step towards addressing the challenges faced during the pandemic – including export restrictions and supply chain dependencies – โขand ensuringโ a secure, domestically-produced vaccine supply for Europe.