- Emergent BioSolutions has entered into a $34.5 million agreement with Substipharm Biologics to support drug substance manufacturing of the IMOJEV® Japanese Encephalitis vaccine.
- The agreement includes manufacturing at the Canton, Massachusetts facility and potential exclusive distribution to the U.S. government following FDA approval.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has entered into an agreement valued at approximately $34.5 million with Substipharm Biologics to support drug substance manufacturing for its Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine, marketed internationally as IMOJEV®. The work will be carried out at Emergent’s Canton, Massachusetts facility, with the company also set to act as the exclusive distributor of the vaccine to the U.S. government, subject to potential U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
Under the agreement, Emergent will provide CDMO and contract manufacturing services, including operational readiness and regulatory inspection support, as well as drug substance production to support Substipharm’s U.S. regulatory submission. The partnership also includes a distribution agreement covering supply to the U.S. government following approval.
The Canton facility, a BSL-2 multi-product site, supports viral drug substance manufacturing. Following an FDA inspection in February 2026, the facility received a “No Action Indicated” classification. Emergent has initiated scale-up activities at the site and plans to recruit additional employees later this year.
“This strategic manufacturing partnership is a critical step in our efforts to onshore production of critical medicines and leverage our specialized capabilities to support the U.S. government’s preparedness needs.”
Joe Papa, President and CEO of Emergent BioSolutions
IMOJEV® is a Japanese Encephalitis vaccine used in several countries in Asia since 2012. The agreement reflects efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and support regulatory pathways for potential introduction of the vaccine into the U.S. market.
