South Africa’s mRNA hub progress is the foundation for self-reliance

The mRNA technology is not only for COVID-19, we hope it can be adapted to help us in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, which is why we’re investing heavily, alongside international partners, in this initiative.”

The central aim is to develop a training facility where mRNA technology is developed to the scale required for mass production of vaccines and then for that full package of technology to be transferrable to multiple recipients in low- and middle-income countries.

South African Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla said that “The new hub is not just for South Africa, it provides a one-stop-shop for low- and middle-income countries across the world to benefit from the technology transferred, along with the know-how, so they can also produce mRNA vaccines, which is critical if we are to end vaccine inequity.”

Last week, Afrigen, which is part of WHO’s mRNA consortium, gained international plaudits as it announced it had developed its own version of an mRNA shot, based on the publicly available data on the composition of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which will be tested in the coming months.

“This virus shows how interconnected we all are and I am proud that Belgium –and other EU countries – are now collaborating to build vaccine capacity everywhere,” said Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy of Belgium. “Going forward we need more sharing of licenses, technology transfer, and know-how so that in this pandemic and future ones as we can roll vaccines out quickly and equitably to the whole global population.”

The mRNA global hub is designed to serve low- and middle-income countries and will empower countries to not only be able to make their own mRNA vaccines but ultimately to have the choice of which vaccines they want to make. Manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries are therefore encouraged to express their own interests so they can receive training, technology transfer, and any necessary licenses. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control, and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.

“The pandemic has highlighted the need for increased local production of vaccines globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “The WHO mRNA global hub is a major step in that direction, by sharing technology and building on the capacity and scientific expertise that already exists in South Africa.”

The global hubs will act as training facilities where technology is established at an industrial scale and clinical development performed. WHO will complement this activity and assist other countries in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity as well as regulatory capacity.

Dr. Matshidiso  Moeti, Regional Director of World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, said: “The mRNA hubs provide an unprecedented opportunity for capacity development, putting Africa on the path to self-reliance. This initiative will enable the continent to better protect against outbreaks, control the COVID-19 pandemic and develop new vaccines, accelerating the elimination of deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. We are opening the door to better health and wellbeing for our people.”

“At Medicines Patent Pool, we are thrilled to be able to offer the mRNA hub our expertise on intellectual property management and voluntary licensing. It is impressive how working in partnership and in a very short time, we have established the firm base from which this new technology can be shared across low- and middle-income countries,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director, Medicines Patent Pool. “The South African government and partners have shown extraordinary commitment, and of course, this has only been made possible thanks to our funders, who through rapidly mobilizing resources have demonstrated such strong support for the project.”