The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging and disruptive for societies globally, forcing us to adapt ways of working and living to safeguard vulnerable people from infection. The outbreak has also fostered creativity and innovation when it comes to adapting to change, particularly in the pharmaceutical and healthcare spaces as we have sought out treatments and care approaches to save lives. Recipharm will explore the challenges and pitfalls in developing new genetic vaccines, and in manufacturing them following approval. In addition, we will discuss how strategic partnerships with expert contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) can support vaccine developers to bring their innovations to market.