Belgium to assist mRNA vaccine production in South Africa with mini-laboratory

South African biotech company Afrigen will soon be able to produce RNA for vaccines with the help of a Belgian automated mini-laboratory. This will make it easier for the Cape Town-based company – which developed the first African mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 – to scale up its production. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde heard about the company's work during their visit to the site on Saturday.

The World Health Organisation designated Afrigen as the global centre of excellence for mRNA vaccine technology in June 2022. The company not only develops and produces vaccines but is also responsible for knowledge transfer to more than 15 production sites in low- and middle-income countries.

Afrigen developed its own mRNA Covid-19 vaccine last year, by dissecting that of US pharma giant Moderna. The first African-made mRNA vaccine is currently in the preclinical testing phase.

"The minilab works completely autonomously and makes small amounts of RNA. It makes no mistakes and offers consistent, continuous production of RNA day and night."

In late 2022, Afrigen partnered with Walloon biotech company Univercells and Flemish industry peer Etherna. Through subsidiary Quantoom, Univercells developed an automated laboratory measuring about two square metres for the production of RNA, the first of which will arrive at Afrigen in the coming weeks.

Etherna provides the technology that allows the vaccines to be stored in normal refrigerators, rather than at temperatures of -20 to -80 degrees. This makes the vaccines more accessible in low- and middle-income countries.

"The minilab works completely autonomously and makes small amounts of RNA," Univercells co-founder and Quantoom CEO Jose Castillo explained. "It makes no mistakes and offers consistent, continuous production of RNA day and night." As a result, there is no need for scale and accompanying massive investment. The minilab can eventually make RNA for 50 million vaccine doses a year.

^{Queen Mathilde and king Philippe of Belgium pictured during a visit to the Afrigen biotech company © BELGA PHOTO POOL DIDIER LEBRUN}