A new vaccine against mpox, manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company KM Biologics for emergency use, was approved on Tuesday, November 19, by the World Health Organization (WHO). The LC16m8 vaccine is the second to obtain validation from the agency, after MVA-BN in September.
This should “facilitate greater and rapid access to vaccines in communities where mox outbreaks are increasing,” estimates the WHO. An emergency use authorization from the organization allows all countries to quickly approve and import a vaccine for distribution.
“WHO emergency listing of the mox LC16m8 vaccine marks an important step in our response to the current emergency, providing a new option to protect all populations, including children.”Yukiko Nakatani, WHO deputy director-general for Access to Medicines, said in a statement.
International emergency situation
On August 14, the United Nations health agency declared a new international emergency over mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, amid growing concern about a rise in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic. of the Congo (DRC), which has spread to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). countries.
According to the WHO, this and other strains of smallpox have been reported in 80 countries, including 19 in Africa, since the beginning of the year.
The Japanese government has announced its intention to offer the Democratic Republic of the Congo 3.05 million doses of LC16m8.
