Geneva – The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are pleased to announce a €2 million funding allocation from the Government of Flanders to enhance regional health security in Africa. This funding will support efforts to address global health inequities and build resilience against future pandemics by strengthening local manufacturing capacities for vaccines, therapeutics, and essential health products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through technical partnerships with Flemish institutions. Through this investment, Flanders is contributing to reshaping the global health landscape and ensuring that LMICs are better equipped to respond to future health crises.

Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP, said: “The support of Flanders is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and resilient global health landscape. Our partnership will strengthen pandemic preparedness and response and contribute to the broader African development agenda, improving health outcomes and fostering economic growth. At MPP, we are delighted to provide our expertise.”

Driving Innovation through the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme established by WHO and the MPP

Michael Ward, Senior technical specialist at WHO Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP), stated: “The WHO HTAP Programme is driving a paradigm shift in global health equity by empowering local manufacturing of essential health technologies. Through the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, part of HTAP’s initiatives, we are building robust vaccine production capacity in Africa, ensuring countries have the tools and expertise to produce life-saving vaccines locally and independently. This project will contribute to providing advanced technologies to other manufacturers on the continent.”

The mRNA Technology Transfer Programme enables LMICs, including six African nations, to develop self-sustaining capabilities in producing cutting-edge mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. This initiative has already begun to reshape the health technology ecosystem by equipping countries with the expertise to manufacture innovative vaccines locally.

Katrien de Pauw, diplomatic representative for the Government of Flanders in Geneva, remarked: “Flanders is committed to advancing global health equity by leveraging our expertise and resources to empower local manufacturing in Africa. This initiative reflects our belief in the power of collaboration to address global challenges, strengthen health systems, and ensure that life-saving innovations reach those who need them most.”

Strategic Investments for Sustainable Health Security

Over the next three years (2025–2027), the funding will focus on:

  • Mapping and needs assessments: Identify Flemish institutions with advanced technologies and match them with African partners to address local capacity gaps.
  • Knowledge transfer and capacity building: Facilitating the transfer of critical skills and expertise to local researchers, manufacturers, and regulatory professionals in Africa.
  • Clinical trial support: Providing technical assistance and resources for Phase 1 clinical trials in African populations to validate and scale up production.

This strategic investment ensures equitable access to health technologies while driving economic growth and fostering resilience across the continent. By enabling LMICs to produce life-saving vaccines and therapeutics locally, the initiative paves the way for a more equitable global health future.

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About WHO HTAP

The WHO Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) is a global initiative dedicated to enhancing access to essential health technologies in low- and middle-income countries by fostering local production and capacity-building initiatives. The program supports sustainable health technology ecosystems, contributing to global health equity.

For more information: WHO Health Technology Access Pool

About MPP

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.

To date, MPP has signed agreements with 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.

MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.

Media contact: Gelise McCullough, gmccullough@medicinespatentpool.org,
tel: +41796856436