GALVmed launches cost-sharing phase for FMD vaccine in Eastern Africa

EAST AFRICA – The Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) has embarked on the Distribution Cost-Share Phase of its Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine initiative in Eastern Africa. 

This rollout, which began on October 1, 2024, is part of a broader effort to provide regionally tailored solutions for controlling FMD, a disease that continues to devastate livestock and undermine the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in the region.

Foot and Mouth Disease is one of the most contagious and economically disruptive livestock diseases worldwide, threatening not only animal health but also international trade and local food security. 

Endemic in Eastern Africa, FMD can sharply reduce livestock productivity, posing a constant challenge to farmers and national economies. 

While vaccination remains the most effective tool for managing the disease, existing vaccines often fail to address the diverse strains circulating in the region.

The recent milestone in FMD control came on September 26, 2024, when the first quadrivalent FMD vaccine, specifically developed for Eastern Africa, was registered during an event at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome. 

The vaccine, developed by Moroccan-based pharmaceutical company Biopharma, meets the Target Product Profile (TPP) of the AgResults FMD Vaccine Challenge Project. 

Biopharma became the first company to qualify under the project by successfully registering this breakthrough vaccine in Rwanda, one of the six target countries in the region, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania, and Kenya. 

The vaccine, designed to address multiple FMD strains common in Eastern Africa, was officially registered in August 2024, paving the way for the Distribution Cost-Share Phase.

Launched in February 2020, the AgResults FMD Vaccine Challenge Project is an eight-year initiative with a US$17.34 million budget managed by GALVmed. 

The project operates as a Pay-for-Results competition, incentivising pharmaceutical companies to develop high-quality, regionally relevant quadrivalent vaccines. 

The project’s goal is to accelerate the production and distribution of effective vaccines that meet the specific needs of livestock in Eastern Africa.

The initiative is structured into two distinct phases: the Development Phase, during which manufacturers design vaccines that meet the regional criteria, and the Distribution Cost-Share Phase, which is currently in progress. 

Biopharma’s quadrivalent vaccine, having successfully navigated the development and registration process, is a significant success in the project’s first phase.

In this second phase, GALVmed aims to lower the cost of vaccines through a cost-sharing mechanism, making them more accessible to public and private buyers. 

By reducing the price per dose, the project hopes to boost vaccine availability, thereby increasing protection for livestock and enhancing food security across the region.

At the launch event, representatives from the AgResults donor Steering Committee, the AgResults Secretariat, and GALVmed highlighted the progress made since the project’s inception. 

They stressed the importance of achieving this critical milestone in the fight against FMD, which remains a persistent threat to the economic stability of livestock-reliant communities in Eastern Africa.

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