Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, established in Cape Town, South Africa in 2014, focuses on developing and manufacturing vaccines and biologics for the African continent. The company aims to bridge the vaccine gap and improve healthcare access in regions historically underserved. While initially focused on in-licensing a tuberculosis vaccine, Afrigen’s scope has significantly broadened.
Afrigen’s Pioneering Role in mRNA Technology
Afrigen plays a pioneering role in global health through its involvement with the World Health Organization (WHO) mRNA Technology Transfer Hub. Launched on June 21, 2021, this initiative aims to build capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for producing mRNA vaccines. Afrigen was chosen as the central hub for this program, serving as a center of excellence for training and capacity building.
The hub initially focused on developing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Despite challenges with expected technology transfers, Afrigen began developing the mRNA technology from scratch by September 2021. Their team, initially without prior mRNA experience, successfully produced technical batches of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine using publicly available sequence data.
This collaborative effort involves Afrigen, Biovac, and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) as part of the South African hub. Afrigen establishes the mRNA vaccine production technology, while SAMRC coordinates the regional research and development program. The objective is to share this technology and expertise with a network of 15 global partners across four continents, enabling them to establish their own mRNA vaccine manufacturing.
The Importance of Local Vaccine Production
Afrigen’s work in local vaccine production is crucial for the African continent. Historically, Africa has relied heavily on external vaccine supply chains, producing less than 1% of its vaccine needs while consuming 25-30% of global supplies. This reliance became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when affluent nations quickly secured vaccine supplies, leaving lower-income countries with severe shortages and exacerbating health inequities.
Local production addresses global vaccine inequity and reduces dependency on external sources. By establishing manufacturing capabilities within Africa, countries ensure timely access to vaccines during health crises and strengthen public health infrastructure. This self-sufficiency also aids pandemic preparedness, allowing for a quicker response to new threats without vaccine hoarding or export restrictions.
Developing local manufacturing capacity also fosters health equity by enabling countries to address their specific public health needs. This includes the ability to develop vaccines for diseases prevalent in the region that may not be prioritized by global pharmaceutical companies. Such initiatives contribute to building a resilient and self-sustaining health landscape across the continent, aiming to produce over 60% of required vaccine doses locally by 2040.
Understanding mRNA Vaccines
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines differ from traditional vaccines. Instead of introducing a weakened or inactivated virus or a piece of viral protein, mRNA vaccines teach the body’s cells to make a specific protein. For COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, the mRNA provides instructions for cells to produce the “spike protein” found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Once these instructions are delivered, the body’s cells temporarily produce this harmless spike protein. The immune system then recognizes this protein as foreign and mounts a response, creating antibodies and other immune cells. If the vaccinated individual is later exposed to the actual virus, their immune system is already primed to recognize and fight it, preventing severe illness.
mRNA vaccine technology offers rapid development and adaptability. Once the basic platform is established, modifying the mRNA instructions to target new variants or different diseases can be done relatively quickly, potentially in days or weeks. These vaccines do not contain a live virus, and the mRNA does not enter the cell’s nucleus or alter human DNA, as it is quickly broken down by the body’s cells after the protein is made.