Responding to the announcement that the Director General of the World Health Organization has declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), IFPMA Director General, Dr. David Reddy, said:

“IFPMA is deeply concerned by the rising number of cases of Mpox in the African region, and the pharmaceutical industry is committed to supporting the global response.
“There are several vaccines that might confer some protection against Mpox, and we understand that the companies that manufacture these could further increase production if required.
“To optimize the global response there must be intensified surveillance to better understand the transmission of the virus and to inform the wider vaccination strategy; existing stockpiles should be shared and made available where they are most needed; and advance purchase agreements and funding needs to be put in place to support scale up of production.
“Demand forecasts for vaccines and therapeutics, coupled with product registrations that proceed as rapidly as the science will support, will enable procurement agencies to place orders and further guide manufacturers.
“The seriousness of the outbreak serves as another reminder of the importance of supporting the continued development of the vaccines and treatments that are so critical to preparing and responding to global health threats, and that the international community must ensure they can reach the people who need them as quickly as possible.”