WHO officials and ministers welcome the progress on local mRNA Technology Transfer Programme

Media statement

21 April 2023

WHO officials and ministers welcome the progress on local mRNA Technology Transfer Programme?

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has commended the progress that has been made in establishing the mRNA technology transfer hub at Afrigen in Cape Town.

Dr Tedros spoke at a breakfast meeting on 20 April, which was held on the sidelines of the first in-person meeting of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, currently underway at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town until 21 April 2023.??The meeting is the first in a series of yearly in-person events involving the programme's main local and global stakeholders and partners.??

Dr Tedros was accompanied by Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla, Norway's Minister of International Development, Ms Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, General Administrator of the Institut Pasteur Senegal Dr Amadou Sall, and the Africa Director of 1Day Sooner, Zacharia Kafuko, among other delegates.

Dr Tedros expressed his delight at being in Cape Town with the WHO's partners to support a sustainable model for mRNA technology transfer, which aims to provide low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with equal access to vaccines and other critical health goods.??

"I am immensely proud of the achievement of all those involved in this project.??In less than two years we have shown that when we work collaboratively, we succeed collectively," he said.?

The technology transfer hub was announced in June 2021 with the goal of increasing capacity in LMICs to develop mRNA vaccines through a centre of excellence and training.

On behalf of the government, Dr Blade Nzimande acknowledged and encouraged the private sector's active participation in the development and production of health-care goods, including vaccines, that are affordable and accessible to all, including the most marginalised segments of society.

"This ecosystem is crucial for us to build both vaccines and drug-manufacturing capabilities," said Minister Nzimande.?

"We celebrate the partnership between government and the private sector, including, in this instance, Afrigen and Biovac, who are working hand in hand with an impressive network of international partners across the developing world," he said.?

Minister Nzimande was also delighted to learn about AfriVac2121, the first mRNA vaccine candidate that has been designed, developed and produced at lab scale in Africa.?

Dr Phaahla was pleased to be part of this historical event and to witness a programme targeted at empowering LMICs through a worldwide collaborative network.

"I am thrilled to see the progress made in such a relatively short time and welcome the support from so many different countries – countries like South Africa, that have a strong, vibrant biomanufacturing capacity and that are willing to work together, learn from and share with each other," he said.

Mr Martin Seychell, European Commission (EC) Deputy Director General, said that the EC has expressed its commitment to strengthening global health architecture, pandemic preparedness and response capacities globally.??He said that it is key for the European Union (EU) to increase equitable access to safe, effective and affordable health products to strengthen health and health security globally.

The EU has already contributed €40?million to the establishment of the mRNA technology transfer hub and recently signed another grant of €15,5?million with the European Investment Bank to facilitate the expansion of vaccine manufacturing capacity.?

He pointed out that it is now more necessary than ever to solve potential regulatory and demand obstacles to secure not just the manufacturing of high-quality vaccinations globally, but also fast and equal access to those vaccines.

"We are proud that South Africa has been a frontrunner, and its leadership in local vaccine production for Africa is remarkable.??The EU is a strong supporter of South African initiatives," he said.

For more information contact Zama Mthethwa on 082?808?3956 or at?[email protected]

Issued by the Department of Science and Innovation.