India Joins Disease X Vaccine Network With $30 Million

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) today announced Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd (SII) has joined CEPI's network of vaccine producers in the Global South to support more rapid, agile, and equitable responses to future public health disease outbreaks.

To prepare for such a scenario, CEPI is investing up to $30 million to build upon SII's proven track record of rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks, expanding the company's ability to swiftly supply investigational vaccines in the face of epidemic and pandemic threats.

Created by CEPI to expand the global footprint of vaccine production, the manufacturing network focuses on vaccine makers in the Global South near areas at high risk of outbreaks caused by deadly viral threats like Lassa Fever, Nipah, Disease X, and other pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential prioritized by CEPI.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said in a press release on January 23, 2024, "As part of CEPI's global manufacturing network, 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."

Given SII's already proven production capabilities, the company may be called upon to promptly supply investigational vaccines for preclinical and clinical testing and large-scale supply in the event of an outbreak.

Shortening the time taken to manufacture and validate the first batches of experimental vaccines will be vital to enabling a response to an escalating outbreak within just 100 days – a goal created by CEPI and embraced by the G7, G20, and industry leaders – and could help stop a future pandemic in its tracks.