HIPRA is the only company in the EU FAB network that integrates all phases of vaccine development, from the production of the active ingredient to packaging.
Girona, July 3, 2023 – The biopharmaceutical company HIPRA has signed a framework contract with the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) to ensure the production and supply of vaccines in Europe in the event of a new health emergency. This project, known as EU FAB, is one of the European Union's initiatives to strengthen its capacity to respond to future health crises.
Through this initiative, Europe will have sufficient and flexible manufacturing capacity for various types of vaccines based on proteins, mRNA, and vectors. In HIPRA’s case, the agreement entails the reservation of production capacity for recombinant protein vaccines.
HIPRA has over three years of experience in human health and, in this short time, has managed to register its human vaccine to combat COVID-19. Participation in this project is a recognition of the company's capabilities, both industrial and in R&D development, as well as the expertise acquired through over 50 years of vaccine development. With this agreement, HIPRA strengthens its position as a strategic partner in the field of human health.
How EU FAB works
EU FAB is a project aimed at reserving vaccine manufacturing capacities so that Europe can access them on short notice. The facilities of companies in the EU FAB network are committed to being continuously ready to respond to a crisis, keeping their infrastructure updated, ensuring staff training, and monitoring supply chains, including storage when necessary. In the event of a public health emergency, EU FAB would be activated to begin vaccine production and delivery promptly, in accordance with the timelines set out in purchase agreements.
The EU FAB network – a flagship HERA initiative
The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is a cornerstone of the European Health Union and a key resource for reinforcing the EU's health emergency preparedness and response capabilities. It was created to improve Europe’s ability to respond rapidly to such crises and to ensure that vaccines are made available to EU citizens.
In its 2023 Work Plan, HERA committed to better preparedness for pandemics and other large-scale health emergencies, focusing on the availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures (MCMs) through five flagship initiatives, one of which is the creation of EU FAB.
The EU FAB network emerged from a call for tenders launched in April 2022 under the EU4Health program on behalf of HERA. Pharmaceutical companies and contract manufacturing organizations serving the pharmaceutical industry were eligible to apply.
EU4Health, with a budget of €5.3 billion, is the EU’s fourth and largest health program. The European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) manages the majority of EU4Health’s total budget and executes the program by overseeing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.
About HIPRA
HIPRA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on prevention in both animal and human health (One Health), offering a wide range of highly innovative vaccines and advanced diagnostic services. With its claim “Building immunity for a healthier world”, HIPRA affirms its commitment to contributing solutions that improve global health.
The company has a strong international presence with 40 subsidiaries, 3 R&D centers, and 6 production sites strategically located in Europe (Spain) and the Americas (Brazil). Furthermore, its extensive global distribution network maintains active commercial channels with nearly 100 additional countries, thus covering all 5 continents. Research and development form the core of HIPRA’s expertise. The company allocates more than 10% of its annual turnover to R&D activities focused on the latest scientific advancements for developing top-quality innovative vaccines.
HIPRA has a portfolio of vaccines based on various technological platforms. Its R&D teams work with a broad range of technologies and biological modalities.
To add further value to its vaccination experience, the company also develops medical devices and traceability services for animal health.