Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has welcomed the recently announced partnership between Biovac, a leading South African biopharmaceutical manufacturer and EuBiologics, a global biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea.
The collaboration involves technology transfer of a Meningococcal Meningitis pentavalent conjugate vaccine, a significant stride towards enhancing health equity outcomes globally and bolstering vaccine manufacturing sustainability in Africa.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Biovac and EuBiologics was officially signed in Cape Town, alongside the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturing Network (DCVMN).
The event, co-hosted by Biovac, gathered global partners, stakeholders and vaccine manufacturers from around the world, emphasizing the global commitment to health equity and vaccine accessibility.
The partnership is a positive development for Biovac, enabling the local production and distribution of a crucial vaccine across Africa, where the demand is most acute.
Meningococcal meningitis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, poses significant health risks worldwide, with the highest unmet medical need located in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa.
The vaccine resulting from this collaboration will offer protection against various strains of the disease, including the emerging serotype X.
“We are pleased that Biovac was able to enter into an arrangement with a South Korean-based company for a vaccine that would be suited not only for South Africa but for our continent, particularly at a time when Africa is on a journey to vaccine manufacturing self-sufficiency,” said Minister Patel, expressing his optimism and support for the partnership.
He further emphasised the potential global and local impact of this collaboration, expressing hope for enhanced global public health.
“This is the beginning of the collaboration between the two companies, but I am hopeful that this will lead to an improvement in global public health, capacity building of an African manufacturer, and most importantly the impact on lives in Africa, where the disease burden is highest,” said Patel.
The dtic remains committed to supporting such impactful collaborations, fostering a climate of innovation, health equity and economic growth within South Africa and across the continent.
Source: South African Government News Agency