HERA secures more than 100,000 treatment courses against Mpox, smallpox and cowpox

Today, the Commission's Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), has signed a contract with the company Meridian Medical Technologies, LLC, to supply up to 100,080 oral treatment courses of Tecovirimat SIGA, the therapeutic against mpox, smallpox and cowpox.

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Last year, the EU and its Member States worked together to swiftly and successfully bring the mpox outbreak under control. However, as COVID continues to show, we must remain vigilant and prepared for any scenario, and should cases rise again in the future. This is why we will continue to ensure that the necessary therapeutics are always available to treat those in need. In a strong European Health Union, we will continue working to significantly strengthen our preparedness and response capacities”.

This joint procurement framework contract intends to meet the middle- and long-term needs of 13 participating countries. It complements the stock available at EU level under rescEU, built up during the peak of the outbreak to address the most immediate needs.

From the onset of the mpox outbreak in May 2022, the Commission ensured that enough vaccines and therapeutics are available, by signing a direct supply contract to purchase vaccines and organising different joint procurements.