CEPI is an international initiative to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines against pathogens with high pandemic potential.

By enabling the development of suitable vaccines against pathogens, which may cause epidemics, CEPI aims to stop epidemics before they turn into large-scale health emergencies and pandemics, respectively. In order to avoid future humanitarian disasters caused by epidemics and pandemics, vaccines should be readily available where and when needed most.

International efforts to fight the global threat of epidemics

Since some diseases offer little economic incentives for pharmaceutical companies to take on the high development costs for vaccines, public funding by the international community is needed.

CEPI brings together governments, industry, academia, philanthropy, intergovernmental institutions, such as the World Health Organization, and civil society. The initiative focuses on diseases that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as possible originators for future pandemics. Since its foundation in 2017, CEPI has supported the development of 8 authorized COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the first ever authorized vaccine against Chikungunya. In addition, CEPI aims to advance the 100 Days Mission, i.e. the development of a new vaccine within 100 days, for instance by the development of platform technologies and prototype vaccines.

CEPI funding as one component of the German engagement in Global Health

Germany is founding member and one of the most important donors of CEPI: So far, Germany has provided 150 Mio. EUR for CEPI’s core portfolio and 430 Mio. EUR for its COVID-19 portfolio via the international campaign „Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator“ (ACT-A). Until 2026, Germany intends to provide additional 40 Mio. EUR for CEPI’s core portfolio.