Overview   Medical countermeasures

A word from DG HERA

In this interview, European Investment Bank Vice-President Marek Mora explains how DG HERA Invest, a flagship initiative under the EU4Health programme, supports the development of innovative medical countermeasures in Europe. He discusses how the €120 million venture debt facility helps SMEs and mid-caps scale up research, clinical trials and production, while addressing priority health threats such as pandemic pathogens, antimicrobial resistance and CBRN risks. The interview also highlights the strategic cooperation between DG HERA and the EIB to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and support breakthrough health innovations.

The European Commission published the Comprehensive Health Threat Prioritisation Assessment, the first major deliverable under the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy. The assessment identified the most serious cross-border health threats facing the EU and provided an evidence base to guide preparedness and response planning. It highlighted priority areas including respiratory viruses with pandemic potential, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and threats linked to conflict or CBRN risks. The assessment supports coordinated EU action to ensure timely access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and protective equipment.

The European Commission published the "Comprehensive health threat prioritisation assessment", the first major deliverable under the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy. The assessment identified the most serious cross-border health threats facing the EU and provided an evidence base to guide preparedness and response planning. It highlighted priority areas including respiratory viruses with pandemic potential, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and threats linked to conflict or CBRN risks. The assessment supports coordinated EU action to ensure timely access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and protective equipment.

DG HERA published a study examining the pharmaceutical manufacturing potential of the Western Balkans and Ukraine and its relevance for Europe’s preparedness in times of shortages and health crises. The analysis identified opportunities to scale up production of essential and generic medicines, strengthen supply chain integration and diversification, and foster investment and cooperation with EU partners. The study contributes to building a stronger evidence base for preparedness and supports closer collaboration with enlargement partners.

A new European partnership for pandemic preparedness, BE READY, was officially launched in Paris in February. Supported by €120 million in EU funding, the initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, prevent and respond rapidly to epidemics and pandemics. The partnership will advance research on emerging and re-emerging pathogens and accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines through coordinated, multinational research efforts.

DG HERA launched its first innovation call to strengthen Europe’s preparedness against CBRN threats — chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear — with total funding of €30 million. The call supports new vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and personal protective equipment, and advances rapid multiplex diagnostics for vector-borne diseases such as dengue and West Nile virus, which are spreading with climate change. This initiative reinforces Europe’s resilience and protection against emerging threats.

Editorial

The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) took part in the official opening of negotiations with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on an autonomous agreement concerning Health Emergency measures in the area of medical countermeasures (MCM).

The European Commission and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched today the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA) initiative. This initiative, funded under the EU4Health 2024 Work Programme, aims to enhance health emergency preparedness and response across the continent. As a testament to EU-Africa health cooperation, PAMTA will support comprehensive diagnostics capabilities and resilience against future health threats.

As part of the first deliverables of the Preparedness Union Strategy, the Commission has launched the new Medical Countermeasures Strategy (MCM). It will support the European Union’s quick and effective response to future health emergencies.

The Critical Medicines Alliance has published a Strategic Report, recommending priority actions to strengthen critical medicines supply in the EU and prevent shortages. Read more about the key findings and recommendations.

The Commission welcomed the Council Decision adopted authorising the opening of negotiations between the Commission and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on health emergency measures in the area of medical countermeasures.

In the five years since the COVID-19 lockdowns began on 15 March, 2020, the world transformed across various dimensions of life. The European Commission remains proactive and prepared for future health threats, protecting the well-being of our citizens is our goal. The EU is taking important steps to prepare for pandemics. The European Union is strengthening its preparedness for a potential flu pandemic. A new joint procurement contract, signed by the European Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, offers 17 countries the possibility to purchase up to 27,403,200 pandemic influenza vaccine doses.

The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed on behalf of 17 participating countries, including 15 EU Member States, a joint procurement framework contract with the pharmaceutical company Moderna. The participating countries will be able to order up to 146 million doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, as needed depending on national context and with no minimum amount of doses to be bought. The contract will run for a period of up to four years.

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.

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.

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.

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.