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1h ago

Biovac Opens Cape Town Lab to Advance End-to-End Vaccine Development in Africa

The Gates Foundation-backed facility adds upstream R&D capacity to cut Africa’s dependence on imported vaccines.

Biovac currently develops, formulates, fills, finishes and distributes vaccines used in South Africa’s childhood vaccine programme. (Photo: Tamsin Metelerkamp)
The logo of South African vaccine manufacturing and storage company Biovac is seen outside the company's offices in Cape Town, South Africa, March 18, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Overview

  • The new product development site enables work from early-stage drug substance through final formulation using platforms that include mRNA.
  • Infrastructure spans mRNA drug substance development, nanoparticle formulation suites, bacterial and cell culture areas, and cell bank storage.
  • Biovac says the expansion supports the African Union objective for 60% local vaccine production by 2040, up from about 1% today.
  • The Gates Foundation reports roughly $15 million in grants to Biovac, including funding for an oral cholera vaccine technology transfer and mRNA preparation.
  • Leaders cast the launch as a move beyond distribution and fill‑finish, noting prior work with Pfizer and BioNTech during COVID‑19, with further investment seen as key to scaling.