The African mRNA vaccine factory is expected to begin construction in mid-2022, according to BioNTech

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th March 2022

BioNTech (22UAy.DE) has inked a deal with the Rwandan government and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal to build Africa's first mRNA vaccine manufacturing plant, which will open in mid-2022 and assist the continent overcome health disparities compared to other parts of the world.

BioNTech, which developed the most widely used COVID-19 shots in the western world with partner Pfizer (PFE.N), will initially build a production line with an annual capacity of 50 million doses that could be used to make vaccines for diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, as well as COVID-19, according to a statement and a spokesperson.

The biotech firm claimed that this will be expanded into a larger production network capable of producing several hundred million mRNA vaccine doses each year, with the goal of passing ownership and know-how to African partners.

"Our goal is to develop vaccines in the African Union and establish sustainable vaccine production capacities to improve medical care in Africa together," stated BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin. Depending on future development advances and medical demands, the partners may decide to produce mRNA vaccines for other diseases such as malaria or tuberculosis, according to a company representative. The study is part of a longer-term effort to prevent a recurrence of the healthcare inequities highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Today's agreements are critical milestones toward producing vaccines end-to-end in Africa," Rwandan Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said during a signing ceremony in Kigali, adding that the goal was to engage Africa in "networks of science, innovation, and production." Ngamije's enthusiasm was echoed in Senegal's foreign affairs minister's statements.

Senegal's foreign affairs minister, Aissata Tall Sall, said, "What was supposed to be a dream is being realised." The manufacturing "for Africa in Africa," according to EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell, is the "only realistic long-term answer to any pandemic."

The initial site will be developed in Rwanda, according to European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, who spoke at a press conference in Kigali. The announcements add to BioNTech's intentions to develop malaria and tuberculosis vaccine production centres in Rwanda and Senegal, which were announced in August as the company narrowed its search for African locations.

In parallel with BioNTech's development activities, Rwanda and Senegal's Institut Pasteur de Dakar will build facilities for final production steps and bottling in a process known as fill and finish.

The German company also stated it was in negotiations with the Biovac Institute in South Africa about expanding their present production collaboration. In July, BioNTech and Pfizer agreed to complete and finish over 100 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine for Africa, which is based on imported active ingredient. It also announced in July that it would pursue the development of a malaria vaccine, with the goal of mass production in Africa.