The German Government’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research announced on Mar. 11 an additional €140 million (US$157 million) to support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI’s) efforts to accelerate the development of a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus.
“ CEPI is extremely grateful for this generous contribution the Government of Germany has made towards our search for a COVID-19 vaccine. Germany is an existing investor in and supporter of CEPI’s mission to accelerate vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. This funding boost comes at a critical time for us, as our vaccine development projects begin to move out of the lab and into the clinic. Germany has helped to propel CEPI towards achieving its $2 billion funding goal,” said Dr. Richard Hatchett Chief Executive Officer, CEPI. “We now call on other sovereign states, private sector partners, and philanthropies around the world to join Germany in supporting CEPI’s crucial vaccine development efforts. CEPI urgently needs additional financial contributions to ensure that the vaccine programmes we have initiated can continue to progress at their current pace.”
Germany joins the governments of Norway and the UK, who have also provided specific funding to CEPI to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. On Feb. 17, Norway announced an additional NOK 36 million ($3.6 million) and on Mar. 6 the UK announced a further £20 million ($25 million) funding to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance the development of vaccine candidates against the COVID-19 virus.
In addition to committing $100 million of its own funds, CEPI has now received $186 million of the $2 billion it estimates is needed to take a COVID-19 vaccine candidate through to licensure and broader use.
