Phase 2.0 of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme marks a defining moment in the global pursuit of equitable access to vaccines and regional manufacturing sovereignty. Co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), the Programme pioneers a model of collaborative, country-led biomanufacturing that empowers low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to respond to future health threats with confidence, speed, and autonomy.
On 21 October 2025, over 100 leaders from governments, academia, industry, and civil society gathered at the Egmont Palace in Brussels — hosted by the Government of Belgium — to officially launch Phase 2.0 (2026–2030). This new phase charts a bold path toward building self-sustaining mRNA manufacturing capacity in at least 10 low- and middle-income countries, with the collective ambition to deliver up to 1.9 billion pandemic-ready doses.
From concept to capacity
Since its launch in 2021, the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme has grown from an idea to a network of 16 manufacturers across four continents, supported by research consortia and regional partners. Together, they are creating an ecosystem of skills, infrastructure and innovation designed to ensure that LMICs can develop and produce the health tools they need.
“We have turned a bold idea into a working model — building skills, infrastructure and confidence across continents,” said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Chair of the MPP Board. “Phase 2.0 ensures we do not lose what we’ve built. With modest additional investment, we can deliver sustainable mRNA access for LMICs — driven by collaboration, innovation and shared ownership.”
WHO’s Dr Yukiko Nakatani, Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data, framed the initiative as a cornerstone of the new Pandemic Treaty: “By growing sustainable regional manufacturing, we can expand equitable access to life-saving vaccines when and where they are needed. This will help to achieve the Pandemic Agreement’s vision of a safer, healthier world.”
A shared vision: from pipeline to preparedness
The mRNA Technology Transfer Programme 2.0 is built on three strategic pillars:
Global commitment to equity
Heidy Rombouts, Director General for Development Corporation and Humanitarian Aid of Belgium opened the meeting by reaffirming her country’s long-standing commitment to health equity: “This programme is not only a blueprint for mRNA access — it is a blueprint for equity. It shows that international cooperation, academic strength and economic opportunity can come together to transform the future of health.”
Other funders of the Programme echoed this commitment:
Africa at the core
Reflecting on the Programme’s origins, Mmboneni Muofhe of South Africa paid tribute to the vision that emerged from the COVID-19 crisis: “This initiative proves we must never waste a good crisis. From global uncertainty, we have built a platform for readiness, for ownership, for equity.”
He praised Afrigen, the SAMRC, Biovac and the South African government for laying a foundation that now supports a global network of partners sharing knowledge and capacity.
“What began as an emergency response has become a movement of empowerment,” said Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen Biologics. “In just three years, Afrigen has built Africa’s first end to end research, development and manufacturing mRNA technology platform and successfully transferred it to Partners across the world. This is proof that equitable access through collaboration works — and that LMICs can lead in platform technologies for global health.”
Academic Leadership for Global Access
Academic partners at the heart of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme are not only advancing science — they are opening access. In a powerful commitment to global equity, Drew Weissman, Nobel Laureate and mRNA pioneer, stated:
“The University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with other academic institutions, will make all of our vaccines and therapeutics available to LMICs through licensing. This will allow clinical trials and production to begin in their home countries — with the MPP helping manage IP and access across the network.”
The Role of Civil Society: Keeping Equity at the Centre
Civil society voices have been essential in holding the global health community accountable — ensuring that equity remains not just a guiding value, but a measurable outcome. Zacharia Kafuko, Chief Strategy Officer at One Day Sooner, brought this urgency to the fore:
“Never again should people be left behind as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must build systems where every country has a voice, every region has capacity, and every person has access. Equity is not a slogan — it is the measure of our shared humanity, exactly what this Programme stands for.”
From sunset to self-sustainability
As Phase 2.0 unfolds, partners are focusing on ensuring the Programme’s legacy beyond 2030 — a self-reliant network of innovators capable of responding to regional health needs and global emergencies alike.
“Let us make sure that what we began is not just remembered as a success — but as the start of something enduring,” added Dr Kieny.
Partner Voices: Local Leadership, Global Collaboration
Throughout the event, Programme Partners reaffirmed their commitment — and the transformative impact the Programme has had.
Biovac, South Africa, emphasized readiness and regulatory learning: “The life of Biovac was on one platform. Now, with mRNA, we’re scaling up, building readiness and co-developing new products. The platform is evolving — and we’re ready to contribute,“ said Morena Makhoana.
BioE, India is leveraging the technology transferred in Phase 1 to scale up commercial manufacturing: “We look forward to establishing GMP production and supporting pandemic response with scalable facilities,“ said Rajendra Burkey.
Biomanguinhos, Brazil reiterated their commitment to regional supply chains and regulatory preparedness: “If we don’t have regional raw materials, we will not be ready for future emergencies. This is about strategic innovation, public mission, and shared sovereignty,“ said Patricia Neves.
BioPharma, Indonesia reported that government co-investment is enabling both pilot- and large-scale GMP capacity, while preparing end-to-end clinical readiness: “This programme has been a catalyst — not only for science, but for national investment and regional partnerships,“ said Indra Rudiansyah.
Incepta, Bangladesh underscored the breadth of their ambition — from RNA to enzymes, lipids and raw materials: “We are ready to contribute to the ecosystem by lowering costs and producing key components — but we need support, and regulators must be on board too,“ said Abdul Muktadir.
Institut Torlak, Serbia highlighted the incredible privilege of having access to international hands-on training centers around the world: “We have increased our partnerships with major academic initiatives and strengthened our workforce in biomanufacturing considerably. We have gained technical expertisein mRNA vaccine production and have achieved promising results,“ said Ivana Lukić.
Sinergium Biotech, Argentina emphasized the power of collaboration and shared infrastructure: “We have the trained people, the analytical methods, the facility. Now we need early-stage R&D investment and continued knowledge exchange to build a pipeline,“ said Fernando Lobos.
He shared how hosting a technical lead from Afrigen helped save time, money, and strengthen the network.
About the mRNA Programme
Established by WHO and MPP in 2021, the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme aims to expand equitable access to mRNA technologies for vaccines and therapeutics by building capacity across LMICs. It is a flagship example of voluntary technology transfer for global public good — bridging science and solidarity to reshape the future of health.
Press and Media
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.