(Source: WIPO)
From the newsletter
African vaccine production has seen a major milestone in the pursuit of local manufacturing capacity. Cape Town-based Biovac Institute is now capable of completing the entire vaccine manufacturing process on its own. This supports climate-health responses and will over time reduce vaccine imports, which currently stand at over 70%.
The institute joins a handful of manufacturers in Africa with a product development laboratory that can see vaccines through from early-stage research to final formulation.
The manufacturing of a vaccine has at least six stages, which in most cases is done by different manufacturing companies in collaboration either through technology transfer or assisted licensing.
More details
The expansion is backed by the Gates Foundation to improve local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals across the continent. Biovac aims to reduce reliance on overseas supplies and ensure faster access to vaccines. The new laboratory is equipped for multiple advanced technologies that aid in drug substance development, nanoparticle formulation, bacterial and cell culture and secure cell bank storage.
The technology allows Biovac to run multiple vaccine projects simultaneously. Initially, the facility will focus on vaccines for pneumonia, rotavirus and COVID-19, with future plans to address malaria and tuberculosis.
“The establishment of our new product development laboratory gives us the capability to develop and test next-generation vaccines using the most advanced technology available. It ensures Africa is not left behind in responding to current and future vaccine-preventable diseases.” Said Morena Makhoana, CEO of Biovac.
Vaccine and drug self-reliance is a crucial component of climate-health resilience in Africa, as it reduces dependence on external sources in the case of a health emergency. Local manufacturing shortens supply chains and ensures quicker availability of medical products for existing and emerging health threats.
However, pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa faces challenges related to access to technology, financing, skilled workforce, regulatory hurdles and weak supply chains. A large portion of the industry relies on imported raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients while others are still struggling to get equipment capacity for manufacturing.
In recognition of this, there have been few notable investments in local manufacturing in the recent past. Africa CDC is currently rolling out $3.2 billion in financing and grants to boost African pharmaceutical and vaccine production. In 2020, the European Investment Bank launched a programme worth $55 million to support African pharmaceutical capacity.
Our take
Climate financing should recognise pharmaceutical capacity as a resilience investment since climate change is projected to cause up to 15.6 million annual deaths by 2050.
Only 0.5% of climate finance has been directed toward health sector adaptation since 2004.