On 19 May 2025, the Permanent Mission of France in Geneva and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), hosted a high-level side event during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Held at the French Mission, the event convened ministers of health, multilateral organizations, regional leaders, civil society, and development partners to discuss how local manufacturing, technology transfer, and investments in human capital can shape resilient, responsive, and equitable health systems.

The event was formally opened by Ambassador Céline Jurgensen, Permanent Representative of France in Geneva, and was moderated by Charles Gore, Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool.

Opening by Host Country – France

Mr. Yannick Neuder, Minister of Health and Access to Care, reaffirmed France’s commitment to health sovereignty, equity, and local production, emphasizing the role of the Pandemic Treaty, the upcoming G7 Presidency, and the need for flexible systems that empower regional leadership. He concluded with a call for cooperation built on trust and dignity.

Perspectives from Partner Countries

  • Dr. Mustapha Ferjani, Minister of Health, Tunisia, stressed that health sovereignty must be built on regional solidarity, regulatory strength, and transparent licensing. He called for a “pact based on trust and shared responsibility,” anchored in equitable technology transfer.
  • Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health, Indonesia, highlighted the challenges of translating resources into timely access to health products. He reinforced the critical role of the Pandemic Fund and Pandemic Treaty as dual pillars of global health architecture.
  • Dr. Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health, South Africa, reaffirmed South Africa’s leadership in the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, noting regional collaborations through the African Union and pooled procurement as key to market shaping and shared production.
  • Ambassador Peter McDougall, Canada, emphasized the importance of supporting robust ecosystems and expressed Canada’s pride as a major funder of the programme, contributing to a vaccine supply chain that now enters a critical sustainability phase.

mRNA Technology Transfer: Where Are We Now?

Dr. Martin Friede, Coordinator at WHO, delivered a forward-looking presentation on the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme’s transition from foundation to sustainability. He emphasized the remarkable progress made in just a few years – transforming an idea into a growing network of LMIC partners equipped with cutting-edge technology.

He described the mRNA platform as a powerful technology still in its infancy, with the potential to revolutionize both vaccines and therapeutics—including cancer and autoimmune treatments—if we continue to support it. “This is a toddler with tremendous potential,” he said, calling on governments, funders, and partners to work collectively to nurture it into adulthood.

He also highlighted the importance of established R&D consortia, pipeline development for priority diseases (like HPV, RSV, and leishmaniasis), and the growing potential for affordable monoclonal antibodies. Continued investment, product development, and collaboration across sectors will be essential to ensure sustainability and impact.

Moderated Panel: Sustainability in Action

On the mRNA Model

  • Dr. Abebe Genetu, Africa CDC, emphasized the end-to-end framework for vaccine production across Africa, from R&D to regulatory strengthening and workforce development. He highlighted the need for pooled procurement and market creation to sustain local production.
  • Jamie Love, Director of KEI, framed the programme as a rare success story in technology transfer, urging that it be expanded to neglected disease areas. He emphasized regulatory bottlenecks and the high cost of inaction, especially in rare diseases and advanced therapies.
  • Maria de Lourdes Aguiar Oliveira, Fiocruz, celebrated the flexibility of the mRNA platform, noting Brazil’s development of Latin America’s first GMP facility and new collaborations with Africa CDC. She emphasized the importance of R&D ecosystems and addressing vaccine hesitancy through public trust and community engagement.

On Innovative Financing

  • Cécile Billaux, European Commission (INTPA), outlined the EU’s multi-pronged investment approach through the Global Gateway and MAV+ programme. She highlighted tools like corporate loans, venture debt, and volume guarantees, and stressed the importance of partnerships and adaptable ticket sizes.
  • Farid Fezoua, IFC, underscored the need for financing across the entire health product value chain, especially in upstream manufacturing, which remains hardest to fund. He shared the example of structuring investment for Institute Pasteur Dakar and emphasised blended finance models that attract co-investment.

On Training and Capacity Building

  • Dr. Bart Janssens, WHO Academy, called workforce “the backbone of any manufacturing system.” With 7,000+ already trained, he emphasized tailored, country-specific learning models and sustained workforce investment for long-term equity and resilience.
  • Priya Basu, Pandemic Fund, shared how the fund is catalyzing investment across 75 LMICs through workforce development, lab capacity, and country-owned surge systems. She noted alignment with MPP’s mission and emphasized that preparedness is impossible without fit-for-purpose human capital.

Closing Reflections

Dr. Deus Mubangizi (on behalf of Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO) closed with a call to action:

“We need a proper pipeline, quality products, and the markets to absorb them. The mRNA Programme shows what’s possible when partners align around a shared goal.”

He reinforced the need to finance sustainability, invest in human resources, and build systems that go beyond any single pandemic.

Claire Thuaudet, Deputy Permanent Representative of France, concluded by thanking all participants and reaffirming France’s commitment to working “together for global health.”

 

Learn more on the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme