WHO lists mpox vaccine by Japan's KM Biologics for emergency use

Meiji Holdings

19/11/2024 22:03

Nov 19 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization listed
KM Biologics' mpox vaccine for emergency use on Tuesday, making
it the second shot to get the approval of the global health
agency.
    It declared mpox a global public health emergency for the
second time in two years in August after a new variant of the
virus, called clade Ib, spread from the Democratic Republic of
Congo to neighboring countries.
    In September, after facing criticism for moving too slowly
on vaccines, the agency cleared Bavarian Nordic's  BAVA.CO 
vaccine for mpox and said it was considering LC16, made by
Japan's KM Biologics, as a potential vaccine option.
    The Government of Japan will donate 3.05 million doses of
the vaccine, along with certain specialized needles, to Congo,
the WHO said.
    The vaccine has been used in Japan during previous mpox
outbreaks and was shown to be safe and effective, including in
people with well-controlled HIV, it said.
    KM Biologics, a unit of candy maker Meiji Holdings Co
 22.69.T , mainly produces vaccines for humans and veterinary
use. 
    According to the latest WHO figures, there have been more
than 50,500 confirmed and suspected cases of mpox in Africa this
year, and more than 1,100 deaths in the continent due to the
illness.
    



 (Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun
Koyyur)
 ((Christy.Santhosh@thomsonreuters.com;))