Bavarian Nordic nears deal with U.S. firm for monkeypox vaccine- Bloomberg News

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Danish biotech Bavarian Nordic is close to a deal with a U.S.-based manufacturer for the packaging of its Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Michigan-based Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing may be ready to start work on the vaccine doses in four months, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Biden administration has been involved in facilitating discussions on the deal, according to the report.

Cases of monkeypox, which cause flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, have been on the rise in the United States. Over 13,500 cases have been reported as of Aug. 17, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director (CDC) Rochelle Walensky said at a briefing on Thursday.

To boost the supply of monkeypox vaccines, the United States is making an additional 1.8 million doses of the Jynneos vaccine available for ordering starting Aug. 22.

Bavarian Nordic, Grand River Aseptic and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)