Producing mRNA vaccines through a centre of excellence and training

Visit to the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub

The mRNA Technology Transfer Hub aims to build capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to produce mRNA vaccines through a centre of excellence and training (the Centre for mRNA technology and transfer).

The hub is located at Afrigen in Cape Town, South Africa, and works closely with a network of technology recipients (partners) in LMICs. The WHO, the Medicines Patent Pool and the ACT-Accelerator support the initiative.

The capabilities established will not only enable these regions to better respond to pandemics but also enable ownership by LMICs to develop mRNA vaccines to address specific diseases prevalent in that country which have thus far have not been a priority for big pharma.

The South African hub comprises Afrigen Biologics, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Biovac, a South African vaccine producer and first manufacturing partner in the LMIC network.

Within this consortium, Afrigen is the entity mandated to establish mRNA vaccine production technology whilst SAMRC is co-ordinating the regional research and development programme.

Key achievements to date:

• The first technical batches of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have already been produced;
• WHO, with the support of an expert group, has selected a number of beneficiaries in all regions to receive technology transfer on mRNA vaccines;
• Fourteen of the fifteen manufacturing partners have received hands-on training for mRNA vaccine lab-scale process at Afrigen;
• Specialised training has been provided through training centres and by WHO so that beneficiary countries can start producing safe and effective vaccines as soon as possible;
• Development of six flagship mRNA vaccine products has commenced with strategic collaborators including vaccine against Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV), Gonorrhoea, HIV, Mpox and Tuberculosis (TB).

Itinerary

12:00 Pick up at Cape Town hotel or Cape Town International Airport
13:00 Arrive at Afrigen Biologics
13:15 Light refreshments and briefing by Prof Petro Terblanche
13:20 Tour of the R&D facility – Dr Caryn Fenner and Dr Elize Willenburg
15:20 Transfer to Biovac