Nestlé donates over $1m for CEPI’s CVOID-19 vaccine search

20 / 05 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

Nestlé announced that it will donate about $ 1.03 million to help the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) proceed with its efforts to scale up the development of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine within the set timeframe of 12 to 18 months.

The Coalition for Epidemics Preparedness Innovations is playing an important role in funding and speeding up the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on a global basis.

A vaccine against COVID-19 is crucial to end the pandemic and to save lives and livelihoods.

CEPI is working quickly and collaboratively with the ambition to develop a safe, effective and globally accessible COVID-19 vaccine within a 12-18-month timeframe.

Nestlé and CEPI have already raised over $1 billion from governments, private donors and individuals around the world but need further funding to reach their goal of $2 billon to allow their COVID-19 programs to continue at pace.

Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of pain and hardship in communities around the world. A safe and effective vaccine will be needed to return to normality. That is why it was important to us to get on board when CEPI issued their call. We hope others will join us and support this important mission.”

CEPI is an innovative global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations launched in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “It will take a monumental effort to tackle this virus, but through global cooperation and financial contributions towards the COVID-19 response, businesses can play their part in helping to change the course of this devastating pandemic.

“We are grateful for Nestlé’s leadership in supporting our efforts to rapidly develop a safe, effective and globally accessible vaccine against COVID-19. At this pivotal moment in time, we call on other businesses to follow Nestlé’s initiative and provide the vital support necessary to get our lives, society and economies back on track.”