Bavarian Nordic shares rise 7% following robust Q1 for vaccine gross sales

Bavarian Nordic has not too long ago secured had key vaccine approvals for chikungunya virus and mpox/smallpox. Picture credit score: Shutterstock / Anne Czichos.

Bavarian Nordic is efficiently navigating a sentiment-changing vaccine panorama, posting Q1 revenues considerably up from the identical interval in 2024.

The Danish vaccine specialist reported quarterly income of DKr1.3bn ($200m), a 62% year-over-year improve. Bavarian Nordic maintained its full yr steering of DKr5.7-DKr6.7bn.

Shares within the firm opened 7% larger at a worth of DKr167.15 at market open, following the announcement made early on 9 Might.

Bavarian Nordic confronted a difficult near 2024, with Q3 income falling 26% in comparison with the identical interval in 2023. Throughout the primary 9 months of the fiscal yr 2024, the corporate skilled a 46% deficit. After some key approvals and contract signings, Bavarian Nordic has turned a nook, and its 2025 begin makes for some robust monetary studying.

Income for Bavarian Nordic’s journey well being enterprise, which incorporates chikungunya vaccine Vimkunya and rabies shot Rabipur amongst others, elevated 52% to Dkr680m. The corporate acknowledged it was Rabipur and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine Encepur that drove the upper gross sales in comparison with 2024.

Vimkunya was permitted within the US and UK in February, changing into the second commercially out there jab alongside Valneva’s Ixchiq. Bavarian Nordic might be set for a market benefit because the vaccine is permitted for folks aged 12 years and older whereas Ixchiq is barely licensed for adults. As of 8 Might, Ixchiq can also be beneath overview by the European Medicines Company (EMA) amid studies of significant negative effects.

Vimkunya will possible contribute to income from Q2 onwards, having been launched within the US in March and set for European markets in H1 2025. Bavarian Nordic obtained a precedence overview voucher, which it expects to monetise, as a part of Vimkunya’s US approval. Voucher gross sales have traditionally averaged at round $100m, facilitating a fast money injection to biotechs promoting them.

For its public preparedness enterprise, headed by smallpox/mpox vaccine Jynneos, income was up an immense 83% to succeed in Dkr629m. Bavarian Nordic acknowledged this “exceeded preliminary expectations” because of orders superior early into Q1. The corporate secured a regulatory win when the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted a freeze-dried formulation of Jynneos, supporting the continuing contract with the US authorities for stockpiling. This consists of not too long ago exercised extra choices valued at $144m throughout the Jynneos stockpiling contract.

Vaccines are beneath the highlight because of a polarised panorama within the US. Well being Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr. has voiced anti-vaccine rhetoric and doubled down on scientifically false claims. In a transfer final week that upped confidence from infectious disease-specialist biotechs, nevertheless, the US Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) launched a $500m initiative to speed up the event of common vaccines concentrating on viruses with pandemic potential.