Biovaccines Nigeria joins 14 others to benefit from mRNA technology transfer hub

By Iyemah David

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) have announced Biovaccines Nigeria Limited (BVNL), and 14 others manufacturers that will receive support from the mRNA technology transfer programme.

The WHO and MPP, disclosed this in a statement made available to Health Reporters.

BVNL is a joint venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria and May & Baker Nigeria Plc (MBN).

It was incorporated in 2005 as the Special Purpose Vehicle to revive vaccines production activity in the country. The company is owned 51 per cent by MBN. (which is Nigeria’s first Pharmaceutical Company) and 49 per cent by the FGN.

BVNL is building on its parent company’s strengths of vertical integration with enriched experience and expertise in setting up state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities dedicated to developing and producing essential and novel vaccines and a proven track-record of supporting healthcare in Nigeria.

 It would also be recalled that in 2021, the WHO decided that four countries in Africa can go into production of the COVID-19 vaccine and Nigeria happened to be one of these countries.  This is why BVNL the

manufacturer in Nigeria will be receiving the support from the mRNA technology transfer programme.

According to the statement, the programme is based around a technology transfer “hub” Afrigen, which is located in South Africa. The “spokes,” or recipients of the technology, in low- and middle-income countries, will receive training and technology from the hub and then produce and sell products commercially.

“This global initiative supported by WHO, MPP and partners, is designed to encourage the sustainable development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19 and other diseases that threaten low- and middle-income countries.

“So far, there are 15 selected recipients of the mRNA technology through the WHO hub. Last week, a vaccine manufacturer from Indonesia, government-owned Biofarma, completed its technology transfer training at Afrigen.

“In March, Bio-Manguinhos from Brazil and Sinergium Biotech from Argentina received the technology transfer training at Afrigen,” the statement read.

The Ministers of Agriculture and Health, Dr Mohammed Mahmud Abubakar and Dr Osagie Ehanire respectively, had in a one day working visit to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State, submitted that NVRI is well positioned for Human COVID-19 vaccine production.

According to Ehanire, the Federal Government used to produce vaccines in Yaba, Lagos State but the facility was shutdown since 1992 for renovation but it was later abandoned completely.

He added that this was probably due to so much oil money Nigeria was making then and much emphasis was placed on importation rather than looking inward to produce locally. “And so, the facility was abandoned because we didn’t know we would one day need that facility,” he said.