Overview   News

Dear readers, Welcome to the newsletter of HERA, the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, created to strengthen Europe’s ability to ensure the provision of medical countermeasures in case of a pandemic or other large-scale health threats. In this issue we will kick-off with an interview to Professor Rachel Lowe on the interplay between climate change and infectious diseases. Professor Lowe gave us a rundown of the main climate-sensitive infectious diseases that may be a potential threat to the EU, while also explaining what is being done at the European level to integrate climate data and infectious disease trends.

In an interconnected world, cross-border health threats present challenges that demand collaborative responses. The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is committed to forging international partnerships that enhance global health security. Our work is grounded in the belief that resilient health systems are built through cooperation, sharing resources, and fostering solidarity among nations.

HERA recently convened the first post-summer meetings for the Critical Medicines Alliance, bringing together key stakeholders to advance initiatives aimed at ensuring the availability and quality of essential medicines across the EU. The meetings took place on 5 September for Working Group 1 (WG1), followed by Working Group 2 (WG2) on 6 September, with a joint session held on 3 October to promote collaboration and synergies between the working groups.

A study exploring the impact of large gatherings on airborne microbial diversity in urban environments has been carried out during the Olympic Games in Paris. The study, titled "Mass public events and microbial composition (virome and microbiome) of the air in crowded community settings in Ile-de-France”, is run by the Institut Pasteur in France in collaboration with the KU Leuven Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and the Laboratory of Viral Metagenomics, part of the HERA-funded DURABLE consortium.

The second and last meeting of the HERA CSF was held on 8 October in-person, with presentations on HERA actions on mpox, HERA priorities for 2025, clinical trials coordination mechanism, threats prioritisation, and Working Group 2 (WG2) on health threats.

Upcoming training events will focus on pull Incentives strategies designed to stimulate market demand, EU FAB, and how to build and implement reservation contracts for vaccines or other medical countermeasures in an effort to ensure that manufacturing capacities can be activated quickly in case of a public health emergency.

The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed a joint procurement framework contract alongside EU Member States for the supply of a medicine used to treat diphtheria with the pharmaceutical company Scandinavian Biopharma Distribution AB. Eight Member States are participating in the agreement, under which they can jointly purchase 1,600 vials of Diphtheria Antitoxin.

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 26 September, the global community took a significant step forward in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A new Political Declaration, endorsed by UN member countries, including EU Member States, sets the stage for intensified global action against AMR through a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.

In a significant stride towards combatting the mpox outbreak, HERA has successfully delivered a total of 205,420 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. This initiative reflects HERA's commitment to supporting African nations in their urgent need for vaccination against mpox, following the outbreak's designation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The third session of the HERA Info Days took place on 24 September at the Petőfi Museum of Literature in Budapest, Hungary. This marks the continuation of a successful series of events following the first two editions held in Paris and Berlin. The Budapest event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, underscoring HERA’s key role in safeguarding public health through robust partnerships and cooperation.

5,420 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine were delivered to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s Vaccine Programmes Unit as part of the EU’s efforts to support Rwanda's response to the ongoing mpox outbreak.

October marks a key moment for HERA with the signing of the first-ever HERA Invest agreement. Together with the European Investment Bank (EIB), we have committed €20 million to support the French biopharmaceutical company Fabentech. This investment will help Fabentech develop and deploy broad-spectrum therapeutics aimed at addressing biological threats to public health.

We go behind the curtain to explore the crucial role of patient advocates in driving change, and discover how collaboration with healthcare professionals is the key to unlocking a solution, we had a chat with Anca Toma, Executive Director of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF).

Medicine shortages are a multi-stakeholder challenge, and this is why joining efforts with patient organisations and healthcare professionals is key to tackle this issue. To understand why it is important to engage with civil society actors when it comes to medicine shortages, we had a chat with Anca Toma, Executive Director of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF), and with Ilaria Passarani, Secretary General of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU).

The Critical Medicines Alliance (CMA) Working Group 1 & 2 met on 17 June to discuss assessing the vulnerability risks of critical medicines supply chains. Members shared experiences, identify key vulnerabilities, and explored industrial measures to address them.

The 2024 Global Health Security Conference, held in Sydney from June 18 to June 21, served as a vital forum for leaders, researchers, policymakers, and representatives from governments, international organizations, civil society, and private industry.

The BIO International Convention in San Diego, held from 3 to 5 June 2024, brought together over 18,500 industry leaders and government representatives, to explore the latest advancements and potential collaborations in biotechnology at global level.

As of September 2024, HERA’s training and exercise programme will enter full speed mode. Regular training opportunities will made available along the management cycle of medical countermeasures (MCM), from development, to manufacturing, procurement, stockpiling and distribution.

Our recent Berlin Info Day, part of the HERA Info Days series, was a huge success! On June 25th, we brought together key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the importance of health emergency preparedness and response. The event offered a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with peers, exchange insights, and foster collaborations.

The GLOWACON 2024 Regional Conference Asia, held on 24-25 June 2024 in Singapore has successfully concluded, marking a significant step in the institutionalization of wastewater and environmental surveillance for global Public Health enhancement.