Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
A foundation financing vaccine development against emerging infectious diseases.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is a foundation that finances independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. It was conceived in 2015 and formally launched in 2017 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the governments of India and Norway. CEPI focuses on the World Health Organization's blueprint priority diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, and has adopted a vision for the world to respond to a pandemic threat with a new vaccine within 100 days.
Quick Facts
- Abbreviation
- CEPI
- Formation
- 2017
- Headquarters
- Oslo, Norway
- Location
- London, England, Washington, D.C., United States
- Purpose
- Fund vaccine development
- Founding location
- Davos, Switzerland
- Leader
- Richard J. Hatchett
- Staff
- 68
Facts from the source article.
History
The concept for CEPI was outlined in a July 2015 paper in The New England Journal of Medicine, co-authored by Jeremy Farrar, Stanley A. Plotkin, and Adel Mahmoud. It was further expanded at the 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos as a solution to problems encountered during the Western African Ebola virus epidemic. Bill Gates stated that the market would not solve the problem because epidemics are infrequent and premium pricing is not allowed. The creation was supported by GlaxoSmithKline, with CEO Sir Andrew Witty noting the lack of spare capacity in vaccine production. CEPI was formally launched at the 2017 Davos with an initial investment of US$460 million from Norway, Japan, Germany, the Wellcome Trust, and the Gates Foundation; India joined shortly after. Gates said a key goal was to reduce vaccine development time from 10 years to less than 12 months. Initial targets included MERS, Lassa fever, Nipah virus, Ebola, Marburg fever, and Zika. John-Arne Røttingen served as interim CEO, and CEPI was based at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo.
Structure
CEPI is incorporated under Norwegian law. As of March 2020, a full-time staff of 68 runs the organization under CEO Richard Hatchett. The board includes four members from the Investors Council and eight independent members. A Scientific Advisory Committee of 24 voting members provides scientific guidance. A Joint Coordination Group includes the WHO, GAVI, and other institutions. The Investors Council, which includes representatives from governments and foundations, nominates four board members and must approve investments over US$100 million.
Publications
In October 2018, CEPI scientists estimated that developing at least one vaccine for each disease that could escalate into global humanitarian crises would cost between US$2.8 billion and US$3.7 billion. In November 2019, CEPI discussed its target portfolio on the WHO's blueprint priority diseases, including MERS-CoV, Nipah virus, Lassa fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Chikungunya virus, and Disease X. CEPI outlined projects to update priorities, establish technical and regulatory pathways, develop sustainable manufacturing solutions, and create investigatory stockpiles.
Investments
In February 2019, US$34 million was given to CureVac for an RNA Printer prototype. In May 2024, US$145 million was given to BioNTech SE to expand its manufacturing facility in Kigali, Rwanda. In March 2018, US$37.5 million was given to Themis Bioscience for a Lassa and MERS-CoV vaccine. In April 2018, US$56 million was given to Inovio Pharmaceuticals for a DNA-vaccine against Lassa and MERS-CoV. In May 2018, US$54.9 million was given to IAVI for a Lassa vaccine, and US$25 million to Profectus Biosciences for a Nipah virus vaccine. In June 2018, US$35 million was given to Profectus Biosciences for a VesiculoVax Lassa vaccine. In August 2018, US$36 million was given to IDT Biologika for a MERS-CoV vaccine. In September 2018, US$19 million was given to Janssen Pharmaceutica and the University of Oxford for a Lassa and MERS-CoV vaccine.
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