EIB and European Commission back VaxThera vaccine facility in Colombia

Financing

The European Investment Bank is providing a €15 million venture loan as the first tranche of an approved €35 million package to VaxThera, announced on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The funds will support construction, fitting out and validation of the second phase of the company’s commercial-scale facility, technology transfer and R&D activities.

Manufacturing capacity

The expansion will create an integrated end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility, including upstream processing and precision filling, enabling VaxThera to produce its own vaccines subject to regulatory approval and to offer contract development and manufacturing services. Nominal capacity is up to 250 million doses per year, rising to 600–700 million doses in pandemic mode.

Support and guarantees

The operation is backed by the European Commission through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) Accelerating Human Development (HDX) guarantee under the Global Gateway initiative. It includes a €1.5 million technical assistance grant for three vaccine candidates, and the EIB investments are matched by new health investments and grants from the Gates Foundation.

Strategic impact

The project targets improved regional access to vaccines, stronger supply-chain resilience and enhanced pandemic preparedness. It aims to develop specialised local talent, create high-value scientific and technical jobs, reduce reliance on imported vaccines, and mobilise further investment in Colombia’s biotechnology ecosystem.