Bilthoven Biologicals (BBio) hosts facilities on campus that are fully dedicated to the European Commission’s pandemic preparedness programme.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed global vulnerabilities in vaccine production and supply chains, from raw materials and packaging to international export restrictions. In response, the European Commission designated Bilthoven Biologicals and five other sites across Europe as strategic production locations for future pandemics.
BBio specializes in viral vector vaccines. At full capacity, BBio will be able to produce at least 300 million vaccines per year.
To ensure readiness, the facility will produce other vector vaccines, keeping staff trained and certifications up to date.
To minimize supply chain risks, nearly all materials - down to the vial stoppers - are already in stock or secured through contracts with European suppliers. The rapid development of the Pandemic Preparedness Facility was made possible through close collaboration with the Cyrus Poonawalla Group in India, which brings extensive expertise from operating the world’s largest pandemic facility.