SA's Biovac, India's Biological E ink vaccine tech transfer deal to boost Africa supply

BIOVAC, a biopharmaceutical company in South Africa, and Biological E, a Supplier of vaccines globally from India, have signed a groundbreaking technology transfer agreement to manufacture and distribute a vaccine against pneumonia across Africa.

- PHILIPPA LARKIN

Pneumococcal infection, which the vaccine protects against, is a cause of significant disease, being a leading cause of pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, and sepsis. The World Health Organisation estimated that in 2005, pneumococcal infections were responsible for the death of 1.6 million children worldwide and while this has reduced significantly over time, newer and better vaccines are still needed.

The agreement aligns with the African Union Commission and Africa CDC's 2022 commitment to ensure that 60% of vaccines used in Africa are manufactured on the continent by 2040. Currently, Africa produces only about 1% of its vaccines, a gap this initiative will help to close.

Biovac said in a statement on Thursday this partnership between Biovac and Biological E represents a step in addressing the continent's high disease burden with locally driven solutions.