Medicines Patent Pool welcomes agreement by Afrigen and Univercells to support the development of first African COVID-19 vaccine
21 June 2022
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes a collaboration agreement by Afrigen Biologics and biotech company Univercells that intends to support the development of the first-ever African-owned COVID-19 vaccine.
The collaboration will work to develop a novel mRNA vaccine using intellectual property from the collaboration partners, and is intended to increase access to the vaccine. Immunotherapy company eTheRNA will support Afrigen and Univercells.
Afrigen hosts the mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub, a global initiative that aims to improve health and health security by establishing locally owned mRNA manufacturing capabilities in and for low- and middle-income countries.
“The Hub programme was designed to assist low- and middle-income countries develop mRNA technology that is sustainable for national and regional use,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP.
“We are delighted to see our partners working towards that goal with this agreement.”