e-FabRIC is an EU-funded project aiming to develop an innovative broad-spectrum pan-Sarbecovirus therapy dedicated to pandemic preparedness. Sarbecoviruses are a subgenus within Betacoronavirus and have high pandemic potential, as shown by the SARS outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Progress
During its first phase, eFabRIC successfully produced a broad-spectrum polyclonal antibody therapy at R&D scale using a mosaic antigen composed of fragments from eight Sarbecoviruses. Designed to provide broad protection, this therapy has demonstrated in vitro activity against all eight represented viruses and other related Sarbecoviruses, as well as in vivo efficacy in two models.
Policy Context
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Europe’s challenges in rapidly developing, procuring, stockpiling, and deploying medical countermeasures (MCMs) fairly across borders. The Commission
swiftly recognised that preparedness is not only defined by the existence of MCMs, but the capacity to deploy them. The recent development of the Medical Countermeasures Strategy,
the Stockpiling Strategy, and the Commission’s work on procurement and stockpiling both stress the importance of ensuring access, availability, stockpiling, procurement, storage, distribution, and rapid deployment of medical countermeasures in crisis situations. The Preparedness Union Strategy, launched in March 2025, promotes a more integrated approach to preparedness, addressing crisis management in an all-hazards, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that connects public health, civil protection, industrial policy, and security considerations. Finally, the ongoing revision of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) reinforces EU-level coordination and response capacities, including through rescEU. This reflects a broader shift toward integrated preparedness and response, particularly for cross-border crises with health, security, and civil protection dimensions.
Policy Recommendations
Research excellence alone will not be sufficient without the ability to manufacture, stockpile, and deploy medical countermeasures rapidly across all member states. To make preparedness operational, e Fabric highlights four priority actions:
e-FabRIC Policy Brief – August 2026 – Download PDF here
