Joshua Malii: American pharmaceutical giant, Moderna, is set to establish the largest messenger – RNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa after reaching a Memorandum of Association (MOU) with Kenya.
The company expects to invest $500 million (Kshs.56.95 Billion) in the Kenyan facility to be established.
In a statement released by the biotechnology firm on Monday, the company states that its goal is to produce 500 million doses a year for the continent, with a focus on drug and substance manufacturing, though the facility could be expanded to include full and finish work.
“In parallel, Moderna is also working on plans to allow it to fill doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Africa as early as 2023, subject to demand.”
The company said.
Kenya, To Manufacture Coronavirus Vaccine
Currently, the African continent is the least vaccinated region in the world against Coronavirus and relies on imports for 99% of its vaccine needs, according to the World Health Organization. African leaders, frustrated by vaccine hoarding, by richer nations joined together to bring the manufacturing facility to the continent with 1.3 Billion people.
“We are pleased to partner with Moderna in the establishment of this mRNA manufacturing facility to help prepare the country and our sister states on the continent through the African Union to respond to future health crises and stave off the next pandemic,”
President Uhuru Kenyatta said after announcing the deal,
“Moderna’s investment in Kenya will help advance equitable global vaccine access and is emblematic of the structural developments that will enable Africa to become an engine of sustainable global growth.”
The announcement by Moderna comes amid mounting pressure on Biotech firms to share their expertise with manufacturers in countries that desperately need more coronavirus vaccine doses.
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Moderna’s Covid vaccine brought in $ 17.7 Billion in sales in 2021 and has been cleared for use in over 70 countries including Kenya.
“Battling the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years has provided a reminder of the work that must be done to ensure global health equity. Moderna is committed to being a part of the solution and today, we announce another step in this journey – an investment in the republic of Kenya to build a drug substance mRNA manufacturing facility capable of supplying up to 500 million doses for the African continent each year.”
Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel said in a statement.
Moderna is also developing other vaccines based on mRNA technology, including for respiratory syncytial virus, HIV and shingles
