Dakar, Oct. 26 (BNA): Senegal and Rwanda signed an agreement with Germany’s BioNTech to build their first end-to-end factories to manufacture RNA vaccines in Africa, according to the Associated Press.
BioNTech, which developed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, said on Tuesday that construction would begin in mid-2022. A statement said the institute is working with the Pasteur Institute in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, and the Rwandan government.
“Modern facilities like this will save lives and change the rules of the game in Africa and could lead to millions of advanced vaccines being made for Africans by Africans in Africa,” said Machidiso Moeti, WHO. FAO Regional Director for Africa.
“This is also critical to imparting knowledge and know-how, bringing in new jobs and skills and ultimately enhancing health security for Africa.”
Ugur Sahin, co-founder and CEO of BioNTech, said its goal is to “develop vaccines in the African Union and establish sustainable vaccine production capabilities to jointly improve medical care in Africa.”
BioNTech had already agreed in August to work with Rwanda and Senegal to set up facilities in Africa capable of mass manufacturing mRNA-based vaccines, under license.
The new mRNA process uses the genetic code of the coronavirus protein and is believed to lead to a better immune response than conventional vaccines. Scientists hope that the technology, which is easier to scale compared to traditional vaccine methods, will eventually be used to make vaccines against other diseases, including malaria.
BioNTech said the facility in Africa will eventually produce about 50 million doses of the vaccine annually, with the potential to scale up.
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