Nairobi, Kenya, June 2nd 2026 – In April 2026, the AgResults Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Challenge Project, managed by GALVmed, reached a significant milestone with Boehringer Ingelheim becoming a competitor. This milestone marks a pivotal step towards developing high-quality FMD vaccines tailored for Eastern Africa.
Launched in February 2020, the AgResults FMD Vaccine Challenge Project is an eight-year, US$17.34 million Pay-for-Results prize competition that supports the development and uptake of high-quality quadrivalent FMD vaccines tailored to meet the needs of Eastern Africa. The project is being run in two phases: In the Development Phase, participating manufacturers work to develop a regionally relevant FMD vaccine that meets certain predefined criteria.
In the Vaccine Distribution Cost-Share Phase, which kicked off in October 2024, the project uses a cost-share mechanism to drive uptake and distribution of high-quality FMD vaccines. The cost-share aims to reduce the cost-per-dose for buyers, enabling public and private sector actors to better combat FMD through access to more effective vaccines. By registering a regionally specific quadrivalent vaccine in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda that met the project’s Target Product Profile (TPP) and receiving approval from the project’s Judging Panel, Boehringer Ingelheim has officially entered the Vaccine Development Cost-Share Phase.
“We welcome the opportunity to participate in the AgResults FMD Vaccine Challenge,” says Tamer Saddec, Regional VPH Commercial Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Initiatives like this play an important role in supporting access to effective FMD vaccines for both public and private sector stakeholders in the region.”
Boehringer Ingelheim’s qualification as a competitor in the Challenge Project underscores their commitment to advancing animal health and supporting agricultural communities in Eastern Africa. With a strong track record in vaccine development, Boehringer Ingelheim brings expertise and innovation to the competition, aiming to deliver a solution that meets the specific requirements of the region.
“Boehringer Ingelheim’s participation in the competition will further drive adoption of high-quality FMD vaccines, in turn benefiting smallholder farmers and improving livestock health in the region,” said Nina Henning, Project Manager Lead at GALVmed. “Their expertise and dedication are crucial as we work towards a vaccine that can transform the livestock industry in Eastern Africa.”
The development of an effective FMD vaccine holds the potential to transform livestock farming in Eastern Africa. By reducing the incidence of FMD, farmers can improve productivity, enhance food security, and boost economic growth. Boehringer Ingelheim’s participation in the challenge is expected to accelerate progress towards these goals.
“We are excited to see the progress being made by our competitors,” said Parasto Hamidi, AgResults Secretariat Team Lead. “The collaboration and innovation demonstrated in this project are paving the way for sustainable solutions to FMD.”
Boehringer Ingelheim’s qualification as a competitor in the AgResults FMD Vaccine Challenge Project represents a promising advancement in the fight against FMD in Eastern Africa. With continued collaboration and innovation, the project is poised to deliver impactful solutions that benefit farmers and communities across the region.
For more information about the FMD Vaccine Challenge Project, visit www.galvmed.org/foot-and-mouth-project. The project is part of AgResults, a $152 million collaborative initiative between the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank Group that uses prize competitions to incentivize the private sector to overcome market barriers and create lasting change. Under AgResults’ Pay-for-Results model, these competitions encourage actors to achieve predetermined results thresholds and quality for monetary prizes.
Media Enquiries:
• Beatrice Ouma | GALVmed
beatrice.ouma@galvmed.org | +254 703700732
• Mallika Padmanabhan | AgResults
mpadmanabhan@deloitte.com | +1 571 251 7933