07 / 2022
"The signed pandemic preparedness contracts with five pharmaceutical companies based in Germany serve to ensure a rapid and sufficient supply of vaccines in the event of a pandemic. ZEPAI will also make preparations for the pandemic response together with the industry during the pandemic-free period," says Professor Dr Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Acting Director of ZEPAI.
ZEPAI staff and representatives of pharmaceutical companies after signing the pandemic preparedness contracts. In the middle Professor Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Acting Director of ZEPAI, to the right Professor Klaus Cichutek, President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, in the background MinR Dr Lars Nickel from the Federal Ministry of Health, on the right Professor Stefan Vieths, Vice President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
Source: B.Morgenroth/Paul-Ehrlich-Institut
The acting director of the Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics (Zentrum für Pandemie-Impfstoffe und - Therapeutika, ZEPAI), Professor Dr Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, signed the Pandemic Preparedness Contracts (Pandemische Bereitschaftsverträge, PBV) with five pharmaceutical companies based in Germany on 3 May 2022. Under the contracts, BioNTech, CureVac/GSK, Wacker/Corden Pharma, Celonic and IDT Biologika agree to maintain manufacturing capacities for vaccines. The aim is to grant the federal government access to the companies' production capacities in the event of a pandemic and thus to make provisions for a new vaccine shortage situation. The Vaccine Production Task Force at the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz, BMWK) had negotiated the pandemic preparedness contracts with the companies in recent months on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesgesundheitsministerium, BMG). On 18 March 2022, the Federal Cabinet decided to award the pandemic preparedness contracts to the above-mentioned companies. The management of the contracts will now be transferred to ZEPAI, which the BMG established at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in October 2021.
Current technological capabilities allow for production capacities for pandemic vaccines to be available in the shortest possible time in the event of a pandemic. The contract manufacturers will undertake to keep production capacities on standby. In the event of an acute demand situation, production can thus be scaled up as quickly as possible. The pandemic preparedness contracts also contain agreements on the production and delivery of vaccines to the federal government.
The pandemic preparedness contracts were reached with the German-based manufacturers BioNTech, CureVac/GSK, Wacker/Corden Pharma, Celonic and IDT Biologika. Companies that already have an approved vaccine as well as contract manufacturers were contracted. The contracts cover different technology platforms so that different types of vaccines can be specifically developed for new or emerging pathogens.
ZEPAI represents the Federal Republic of Germany as the contracting authority vis-à-vis the pharmaceutical companies. The Center is responsible for cooperation with the companies and monitors the build-up of pandemic preparedness. In doing so, ZEPAI supports progress in achieving pandemic preparedness on the basis of the companies' respective pandemic preparedness plans. The companies have two years within the framework of a qualification phase to fulfil all the necessary requirements for pandemic readiness. After achieving the specified qualification conditions, companies will enter the readiness phase. ZEPAI will audit and review the pandemic preparedness plans prepared by the companies.
In the event of a pandemic, ZEPAI's responsibilities also include the procurement, supply and nationwide distribution of pandemic vaccines and therapeutics. ZEPAI will also collaborate with the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA).
Updated: 03.05.2022
