Bavarian Nordic, a European vaccine manufacturer, anticipates increased biodefense funding under the Trump administration, despite the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, as health secretary. The company’s CEO, Paul Chaplin, expressed optimism that biodefense budgets will grow, consistent with trends during previous Republican administrations.
Chaplin noted that during Trump’s first term, significant investments were made in public health preparedness, particularly in biodefense. “The Republican administrations historically boost biodefense spending,” Chaplin stated in an interview.
Biodefense focuses on preparing for and responding to biological threats, including pandemics and potential biowarfare. Bavarian Nordic is a key player in the US government’s smallpox preparedness program, supplying a freeze-dried variant of its smallpox vaccine under a contract set to expire in 2027. The vaccine is also approved for mpox in select countries.
However, concerns linger over how Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism could impact public trust and general vaccination programs, including Bavarian Nordic’s anti-rabies treatment. “It’s challenging to encourage vaccination when the health secretary is skeptical about vaccines,” Chaplin admitted.
On Friday, shares of Bavarian Nordic dropped over 16%, influenced by weak third-quarter results and the announcement of Kennedy’s nomination. Analysts at Sydbank and Kempen cited Kennedy’s controversial stance on vaccines as a factor weighing on investor confidence in the sector.
Despite these challenges, Bavarian Nordic remains hopeful about future biodefense funding, highlighting its essential role in the US government’s biological preparedness strategies.
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