Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE: South Africa’s Afrigen to develop human mRNA Rift Valley fever vaccine

  • $6.2 million CEPI funding to advance vaccine candidate through preclinical development and Phase I trials
  • Clinical testing to be completed in South Africa or another outbreak-affected country on the continent
  • Vaccine designed with the cutting-edge mRNA technology that could help rapidly respond to a future threat faster than traditional vaccines
  • Rift Valley fever is a deadly mosquito-borne disease affecting Africa and the Middle East

 

20 January 2025, DAVOS, SWITZERLAND—The South African biotechnology company Afrigen Biologics is pursuing pioneering new research which aims to develop the first-ever mRNA-based vaccine against Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease affecting countries across Africa and the Middle East.

Supported by a new $6.2 million/ 116 million South African Rand grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the researchers will work with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to progress the new vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into Phase I clinical testing in people in either South Africa or another outbreak-affected country on the continent. If successful, it could offer a critical new and locally produced tool to help combat this potentially deadly illness which poses significant risks to human health as well as livestock.
Prof Petro Terblanche, Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, said: “The CEPI support to Afrigen provides us with another opportunity to utilize our mRNA technology platform to develop a vaccine for a disease of importance to the African continent and the broader region. The partnership with IVI strengthens and complements the technological innovation required to develop a safe and effective vaccine against a 95-year-old disease.”
South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mr Parks Tau, said: “South Africa is committed to innovation and the development of novel vaccines that counter the negative impacts on human health and economic development. The collaboration between CEPI and South Africa’s flagship Biotechnology research, development and manufacturing company Afrigen is valued and central to our commitment to develop and sustain local manufacturing capacity and capabilities on the African continent.”
Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s Minister of Health, stated: “This project and partnership between South Africa’s Afrigen, CEPI and IVI demonstrates again the country’s commitment to building capabilities and capacity for pandemic response and preparedness. Health system’s resiliance and health security are a national priority.”
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “As the world learned during COVID-19, speed, innovation and access are the pivotal forces that will make or break the spread of an epidemic or pandemic threat. A safe and effective Rift Valley fever mRNA vaccine made in Africa, for Africa, raises the bar in our response to future Rift Valley fever outbreaks, and paves the way to make rapid response mRNA vaccines against similar viruses that could emerge on the continent or in other low- and middle-income countries. This new research will further strengthen the continent’s future preparedness and response capabilities thereby enhancing Africa’s vaccine sovereignty and health security.”
First identified in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930s, Rift Valley fever usually occurs in people, such as pastoral farmers, following direct contact with infected animals, like sheep, goats and cattle, or bites from infected mosquitoes. While the majority of people infected experience mild disease, around 1-2% of those infected can develop the severe haemorrhagic form, which can cause blindness, convulsions, encephalitis and bleeding, and has mortality rates of around 50%.
As a mosquito-borne, and therefore climate-sensitive disease, there is a risk of Rift Valley fever outbreaks spreading to new areas or increasing in frequency or size as a result of extreme or unusual weather events. The disease has also been expanding in range in recent years with outbreaks in the Middle East and Indian ocean islands, hence the need for new Rift Valley fever vaccines.
Although vaccines against Rift Valley fever have been registered for animals, no vaccines are currently available or licensed for human use. It is therefore recognised as a priority target disease in need of urgent R&D by both the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new Afrigen vaccine candidate could help combat this threat through leveraging the cutting-edge mRNA technology developed by the company in its role as the Hub for the WHO and MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme which aims to build mRNA vaccine development and production capacity in low- and middle-income countries and closer to where outbreaks happen. The early discovery work by Afrigen on this vaccine candidate was funded by the ELMA Foundation.
David Jarvis, Interim CEO of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which holds 49% equity in Afrigen Biologics, commended CEPI for its support: “Growth in Afrigen’s research capabilities will have a positive effect on the company’s trajectory which will facilitate the creation of job opportunities at Afrigen while delivering positive social impact through improving access to life saving vaccines. This aligns strongly to our mandate of enhancing industrial growth and job creation and delivering positive social impact.”
Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), said: “IVI is committed to working with partners to develop a sustainable end-to-end vaccine ecosystem in Africa that supports novel vaccine discovery, clinical trials, manufacturing, delivery, and access. Through the support and partnership of CEPI and Afrigen, we will accelerate a new Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into a Phase I clinical trial in humans. Together, we aim to develop and locally produce a safe, effective, and accessible Rift Valley fever vaccine in Africa to protect the most affected regions and people from this deadly, though preventable, disease.”
This is the fourth investment CEPI has made in Rift Valley fever vaccine candidates and the first CEPI-supported Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate using mRNA technology.
In line with CEPI’s Equitable Access Policy, Afrigen is committed to the potential development of investigational stockpiles for use in outbreak situations, an affordable pricing mechanism for the vaccine, and endeavouring to manufacture the vaccine close to where outbreaks may occur to geodiversify regional manufacturing capabilities and minimise supply risks.
In addition, the clinical trial and epidemiological data generated by this project will be published open access to benefit the broader public health and research communities.
Tools and findings advanced through this project also have the potential to support the development of mRNA vaccines against other viruses related to Rift Valley fever.
Afrigen first partnered with CEPI in August 2024 to advance research into Afrigen’s mRNA vaccine technology, in a separate project which could shorten the speed in which mRNA vaccines enter clinical testing and production.
Faster and more readily available mRNA vaccines on the African continent would support progress towards the 100 Days Mission, a goal, spearheaded by CEPI and embraced by South Africa and other G20 as well as G7 nations, to develop vaccines against a novel threat within 100 days from identification.
 
 
About Rift Valley fever
Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness of humans and livestock that was first discovered in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930’s, but in recent decades has been detected in many African countries and parts of the Middle East, putting more people in more countries at risk of infection. 
Because of its impact on both people and animals, Rift Valley fever has profound direct and indirect human health impacts – affecting both lives and livelihoods directly. A ‘One Health’ approach to disease control will work for Rift Valley fever. While vaccines are available for veterinary use, no vaccines are currently available for human use.
Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever have been consistently linked with intense periods of rainfall and flooding including those caused by the El Niño phenomenon which has recently returned after a seven year absence. Heavy rains provide ideal conditions for Rift Valley fever-infected mosquitoes to breed and hatch. As climate change persists, expanding the range of mosquitoes and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events such as flooding, there is a risk that Rift Valley fever outbreaks will become more frequent and widespread making the development of a protective human vaccine all the more urgent.
CEPI first invested in the development of Rift Valley fever vaccines, with funding support from the European Union Horizon programmes, in 2019. With the addition of Afrigen, CEPI is now supporting four diverse Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate technologies.
About Afrigen
Afrigen Biologics, is a Biotech Start-up company based in Cape Town South Africa, and is a leading innovator in the field of medical biotechnology on the Continent, dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research and development. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Afrigen strives to deliver transformative therapies that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. 
Having successfully established the WHO/MPP mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer hub in South Africa, Afrigen is well on its way to locally develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines focusing on disease burden in Africa and other low-middle-income countries. Furthermore, Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent focusing on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value. One of the founding members of Afrigen was the South African government’s Industrial Development Corporation which holds 49.3% equity in Afrigen while Avacare Health holds 50.7%.
For more information on Afrigen, please visit https://www.afrigen.co.za/.
For more information on Industrial Development Corporation, please visit https://www.idc.co.za/
About CEPI
CEPI was launched in 2017 as an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.
 
Press Contact Details
CEPI
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 7387 055214
 
Afrigen
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Phone: +2721 2070101
 
Industrial Development Corporation
Email:  [email protected] and [email protected]
Phone: +2711 2693000

 

 

 

 
  • $6.2 million CEPI funding to advance vaccine candidate through preclinical development and Phase I trials
  • Clinical testing to be completed in South Africa or another outbreak-affected country on the continent
  • Vaccine designed with the cutting-edge mRNA technology that could help rapidly respond to a future threat faster than traditional vaccines
  • Rift Valley fever is a deadly mosquito-borne disease affecting Africa and the Middle East

20 January 2025, DAVOS, SWITZERLAND—The South African biotechnology company Afrigen Biologics is pursuing pioneering new research which aims to develop the first-ever mRNA-based vaccine against Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease affecting countries across Africa and the Middle East.

Supported by a new $6.2 million/ 116 million South African Rand grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the researchers will work with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to progress the new vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into Phase I clinical testing in people in either South Africa or another outbreak-affected country on the continent. If successful, it could offer a critical new and locally produced tool to help combat this potentially deadly illness which poses significant risks to human health as well as livestock.

 

Prof Petro Terblanche, Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, said: “The CEPI support to Afrigen provides us with another opportunity to utilize our mRNA technology platform to develop a vaccine for a disease of importance to the African continent and the broader region. The partnership with IVI strengthens and complements the technological innovation required to develop a safe and effective vaccine against a 95-year-old disease.”

 

South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mr Parks Tau, said: “South Africa is committed to innovation and the development of novel vaccines that counter the negative impacts on human health and economic development. The collaboration between CEPI and South Africa’s flagship Biotechnology research, development and manufacturing company Afrigen is valued and central to our commitment to develop and sustain local manufacturing capacity and capabilities on the African continent.”

 

Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s Minister of Health, stated: “This project and partnership between South Africa’s Afrigen, CEPI and IVI demonstrates again the country’s commitment to building capabilities and capacity for pandemic response and preparedness. Health system’s resiliance and health security are a national priority.”

 

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “As the world learned during COVID-19, speed, innovation and access are the pivotal forces that will make or break the spread of an epidemic or pandemic threat. A safe and effective Rift Valley fever mRNA vaccine made in Africa, for Africa, raises the bar in our response to future Rift Valley fever outbreaks, and paves the way to make rapid response mRNA vaccines against similar viruses that could emerge on the continent or in other low- and middle-income countries. This new research will further strengthen the continent’s future preparedness and response capabilities thereby enhancing Africa’s vaccine sovereignty and health security.”

 

First identified in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930s, Rift Valley fever usually occurs in people, such as pastoral farmers, following direct contact with infected animals, like sheep, goats and cattle, or bites from infected mosquitoes. While the majority of people infected experience mild disease, around 1-2% of those infected can develop the severe haemorrhagic form, which can cause blindness, convulsions, encephalitis and bleeding, and has mortality rates of around 50%.

 

As a mosquito-borne, and therefore climate-sensitive disease, there is a risk of Rift Valley fever outbreaks spreading to new areas or increasing in frequency or size as a result of extreme or unusual weather events. The disease has also been expanding in range in recent years with outbreaks in the Middle East and Indian ocean islands, hence the need for new Rift Valley fever vaccines.

Although vaccines against Rift Valley fever have been registered for animals, no vaccines are currently available or licensed for human use. It is therefore recognised as a priority target disease in need of urgent R&D by both the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

The new Afrigen vaccine candidate could help combat this threat through leveraging the cutting-edge mRNA technology developed by the company in its role as the Hub for the WHO and MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme which aims to build mRNA vaccine development and production capacity in low- and middle-income countries and closer to where outbreaks happen. The early discovery work by Afrigen on this vaccine candidate was funded by the ELMA Foundation.

 

David Jarvis, Interim CEO of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which holds 49% equity in Afrigen Biologics, commended CEPI for its support: “Growth in Afrigen’s research capabilities will have a positive effect on the company’s trajectory which will facilitate the creation of job opportunities at Afrigen while delivering positive social impact through improving access to life saving vaccines. This aligns strongly to our mandate of enhancing industrial growth and job creation and delivering positive social impact.”

 

Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), said: “IVI is committed to working with partners to develop a sustainable end-to-end vaccine ecosystem in Africa that supports novel vaccine discovery, clinical trials, manufacturing, delivery, and access. Through the support and partnership of CEPI and Afrigen, we will accelerate a new Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into a Phase I clinical trial in humans. Together, we aim to develop and locally produce a safe, effective, and accessible Rift Valley fever vaccine in Africa to protect the most affected regions and people from this deadly, though preventable, disease.”

 

This is the fourth investment CEPI has made in Rift Valley fever vaccine candidates and the first CEPI-supported Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate using mRNA technology.

 

In line with CEPI’s Equitable Access Policy, Afrigen is committed to the potential development of investigational stockpiles for use in outbreak situations, an affordable pricing mechanism for the vaccine, and endeavouring to manufacture the vaccine close to where outbreaks may occur to geodiversify regional manufacturing capabilities and minimise supply risks.

 

In addition, the clinical trial and epidemiological data generated by this project will be published open access to benefit the broader public health and research communities.

 

Tools and findings advanced through this project also have the potential to support the development of mRNA vaccines against other viruses related to Rift Valley fever.

 

Afrigen first partnered with CEPI in August 2024 to advance research into Afrigen’s mRNA vaccine technology, in a separate project which could shorten the speed in which mRNA vaccines enter clinical testing and production.

 

Faster and more readily available mRNA vaccines on the African continent would support progress towards the 100 Days Mission, a goal, spearheaded by CEPI and embraced by South Africa and other G20 as well as G7 nations, to develop vaccines against a novel threat within 100 days from identification.

ENDS

 

About Rift Valley fever

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness of humans and livestock that was first discovered in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930’s, but in recent decades has been detected in many African countries and parts of the Middle East, putting more people in more countries at risk of infection. 

Because of its impact on both people and animals, Rift Valley fever has profound direct and indirect human health impacts – affecting both lives and livelihoods directly. A ‘One Health’ approach to disease control will work for Rift Valley fever. While vaccines are available for veterinary use, no vaccines are currently available for human use.

 

Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever have been consistently linked with intense periods of rainfall and flooding including those caused by the El Niño phenomenon which has recently returned after a seven year absence. Heavy rains provide ideal conditions for Rift Valley fever-infected mosquitoes to breed and hatch. As climate change persists, expanding the range of mosquitoes and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events such as flooding, there is a risk that Rift Valley fever outbreaks will become more frequent and widespread making the development of a protective human vaccine all the more urgent.

 

CEPI first invested in the development of Rift Valley fever vaccines, with funding support from the European Union Horizon programmes, in 2019. With the addition of Afrigen, CEPI is now supporting four diverse Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate technologies.

 

About Afrigen

Afrigen Biologics, is a Biotech Start-up company based in Cape Town South Africa, and is a leading innovator in the field of medical biotechnology on the Continent, dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research and development. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Afrigen strives to deliver transformative therapies that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. 

 

Having successfully established the WHO/MPP mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer hub in South Africa, Afrigen is well on its way to locally develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines focusing on disease burden in Africa and other low-middle-income countries. Furthermore, Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent focusing on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value. One of the founding members of Afrigen was the South African government’s Industrial Development Corporation which holds 49.3% equity in Afrigen while Avacare Health holds 50.7%.

 

For more information on Afrigen, please visit https://www.afrigen.co.za/.

For more information on Industrial Development Corporation, please visit https://www.idc.co.za/

 

About CEPI

CEPI was launched in 2017 as an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.

 

Press Contact Details

 

CEPI

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 7387 055214

 

Afrigen

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Phone: +2721 2070101

 

Industrial Development Corporation

Email:  [email protected] and [email protected]

Phone: +2711 2693000

 

 

27 Aug 2024; OSLO, Norway; CAPE TOWN, South Africa: Scientists in South Africa will investigate whether synthetic DNA could act as an alternative to traditional plasmid DNA required for mRNA vaccines—potentially making the initial phase of the vaccine development process up to three times faster.  

In a US$2.05 million CEPI-funded project, researchers at Afrigen Biologics, a South African biotech company that is home to the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, will explore whether optimised synthetic DNA can help to reduce mRNA vaccine development timelines for emergency use in the event of a disease outbreak. The CEPI-Afrigen partnership supports the 100 Days Mission—a goal embraced by leaders of the G7 and G20 to reduce vaccine development timelines to a little over three months in response to a pandemic threat.
In mRNA vaccines, pDNA—or Plasmid DNA—is traditionally used as the ‘start material’ required to begin vaccine development. It contains the genetic instructions for producing a specific viral protein, which helps the immune system learn to recognise and fight off a potential infection. Developing pDNA for vaccines is produced by bacterial fermentation and can take over 30 days. This process is time-consuming and expensive, and timelines can be further compounded by insufficient manufacturing capacity and supply chain issues.
By contrast, optimised synthetic DNA (oDNA), manufactured by Syngoi—a CRDMO with proprietary technology—is produced using enzymes, a cell-free process which requires a smaller manufacturing footprint, can be rapidly produced in just ten days, and are less costly. CEPI is exploring the use of this technology in a proof-of-concept project with Afrigen, using pDNA and oDNA to develop an mRNA vaccine for Rift Valley fever and examining the data generated from comparability studies to assess the suitability of oDNA for mRNA vaccine development. If successful, the oDNA technology could accelerate the production of clinical trial material required to test new mRNA vaccines in human clinical trials and ultimately make vaccines available more swiftly to those most in need.
“mRNA vaccine manufacturing processes are fast and flexible; innovative technologies like optimised synthetic DNA can make them even faster,” said Ingrid Kromann, CEPI’s Acting Executive Director, Manufacturing and Supply Chain. “CEPI’s partnership with Afrigen could reduce the vaccine development timelines by addressing the challenges associated with plasmid-DNA supply, helping get vaccines to people faster in the face of an outbreak and reduce inequity.”
Afrigen Biologics is the Hub for the World Health Organization and Medicines Patent Pool co-led mRNA Technology Transfer Programme established in 2021, acting as a centre of excellence and training for the initiative which aims to build capacity in low- and middle-income countries to produce mRNA vaccines. This new partnership could potentially play a role in enabling local manufacturing of vaccines in Africa, in line with CEPI’s strategy to geo-diversify global manufacturing capabilities.
“Afrigen and our technology collaborator Syngoi consider this partnership with CEPI as a strategic milestone, demonstrating the important contribution that biotechnology start-up companies can make to innovation in pursuit of the 100 Days Mission. We are enthusiastic about the contribution this joint project can make to the speed and cost of mRNA vaccine manufacturing,” said Prof Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen Biologics.
Equitable access to vaccines
Enabling global equitable access to vaccines is central to CEPI’s work and at the heart of the 100 Days Mission. Innovations that accelerate the speed and scaling up of vaccine manufacturing will make a vital contribution to access when facing a future novel infectious disease by reducing the period during which vaccines against new pathogens are in short supply, thereby significantly increasing the prospects for more equitable distribution.
CEPI and Afrigen are committed to enabling equitable access to the outputs of this CEPI-supported programme, in line with CEPI’s Equitable Access Policy. This ultimately includes commitment to vaccines being available first to populations at risk when and where they are needed at an affordable price should a related vaccine be developed further using CEPI funding. Project results, including data generated as part of this project, will be published open access for the benefit of the global scientific community.
About CEPI
CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.
About Afrigen Biologics
Afrigen Biologics, is a Biotech Start-up company based in Cape Town South Africa, and is a leading innovator in the field of medical biotechnology on the Continent, dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research and development. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Afrigen strives to deliver transformative therapies that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
Having successfully established the WHO/MPP mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer hub in South Africa, Afrigen is well on its way to locally develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines focusing on disease burden in Africa and other low-middle-income countries. Furthermore, Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent focusing on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value. Afrigen was founded by the Industrial Development Corporation that holds 49% equity in Afrigen while Avacare Health holds 51%.
About Syngoi Technologies
Syngoi is a CRDMO focused on the production of synthetic linear DNA through a new proprietary enzymatic process that addresses the needs of advanced therapies where DNA is the medicinal product or the fundamental starting material. The company was founded in 2021 by Columbus Venture
Partners and it’s located at the technology park of Zamudio in Bilbao (Bizkaia, Spain).
For more information about Syngoi Technologies, visit https://syngoi.com/
 
 
 
Media contacts
 
CEPI
E: [email protected]
P: +44 7387 055214
 
Afrigen Biologics
E: [email protected] or [email protected]
+2721 2070101
 
AAHI is excited to announce an expanded partnership with Afrigen Biologics to develop effective vaccines using AAHI’s innovative adjuvant formulations in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of this expanded partnership is to advance life-saving vaccines in Africa for the people of Africa, to provide affordable and easily accessible protection from disease.  
The expanded partnership stems from a decade-long joint commitment, initially focused on advancing a tuberculosis vaccine candidate combining AAHI’s recombinant ID93 protein and GLA-SE adjuvant formulation.  Afrigen and AAHI plan to collaborate to develop vaccines against multiple infectious diseases of special concern in sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging AAHI’s adjuvant and formulations expertise to develop cost-effective vaccines that will provide broad and long-lasting protection and can easily be manufactured, distributed, and administered in even remote, low-resource areas.
“This enabling partnership with AAHI further enhances Afrigen’s adjuvant formulation capacity and capabilities.  Afrigen created the first adjuvant formulation laboratory on the African Continent in 2018 with a technology transfer from AAHI and collaborated with several academic and research entities locally and internationally to supply a library of next generation formulated adjuvants for vaccine development focusing on HIV, TB and zoonotic diseases aligned with ONE Health priorities. This expanded partnership will allow Afrigen to support the development of adjuvanted vaccines relevant to the burden of disease in Africa and to contribute to pandemic response and preparedness,” explains Prof. Petro Terblanche, Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen.
Afrigen’s continued efforts to build vaccine development capacity in Africa, demonstrated by its designation as the vaccine technology transfer hub of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mRNA Technology Transfer Program, a recent Memorandum of Understanding with Merck to support mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Africa, and continued commitment to training young scientists in research and manufacturing, are directly aligned with AAHI’s efforts to provide vaccine platforms that  enable globally distributed manufacturing for local self-reliance to provide sustainable protection against disease.  
“More than half of all deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are attributed to infections. Vaccines provide one of the most effective and cost-efficient means of reducing this disease burden, which encompasses both communicable disease and non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart disease,” states Dr. Corey Casper, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer at AAHI. “We are committed to making AAHI’s vaccine technologies easily accessible and affordable to people around the globe. We believe that an important way to make vaccine technology available in Africa is through partnerships with local vaccine manufacturers. Afrigen is a longstanding and trusted partner that is especially well-poised to make this vision a reality.”
The expanded partnership with Afrigen is another step toward realizing AAHI’s mission to build a world in which everyone, including the underserved populations most vulnerable to disease, has access to immune-enhancing technologies that promise to save lives. We look forward to keeping you informed of progress toward AAHI’s and Afrigen’s shared goals.
About AAHI:
AAHI is a nonprofit biotech research institute located in Seattle, Washington, that combines the high-quality science of an academic research organization with the product development capabilities of a biotech company to help combat some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including infectious diseases such as COVID-19, mosquito- and tick-borne diseases, cancer, fungal and parasitic infections, and other non-communicable diseases. For nearly three decades, AAHI, previously known as the Infectious Disease Research Institute, has focused on creating immune-enhancing technologies that improve the body’s natural response to disease. Through collaborations, AAHI brings innovative products from the lab to the clinic to the people, furthering AAHI’s mission to bring together the best experts, technologies, and platforms to create accessible, high-quality products and solutions. AAHI is working to build a world in which every person has access to tools that harness their immune system and allow them to live a healthy life free of illness and disease. 
For more information, please contact [email protected]
https://www.aahi.org/press-release/aahi-and-afrigen-biologics-expand-partnership-on-vaccine-adjuvants-for-essential-life-saving-vaccines-for-africa-and-to-contribute-to-the-continents-pandemic-preparedness-and-health-security/
About Afrigen Biologics:
Afrigen Biologics is a Biotech Start-up company based in Cape Town South Africa and is a leading innovator in the field of medical biotechnology on the Continent, dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research and development. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Afrigen strives to deliver transformative therapies that are accessible, affordable, safe and effective – making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
Having successfully established the WHO/MPP mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer hub in South Africa, Afrigen is well on its way to locally develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines focusing on disease burden in Africa and other low-middle-income countries. Furthermore, Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent focusing on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value. Afrigen was founded by the Industrial Development Corporation that holds 49% equity in Afrigen while Avacare Health holds 51%.
Contact us for more information.

 

Merck announced that its Life Science business sector entered a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afrigen Biologics to support the development of an mRNA vaccine technology platform.

Technology transfer will strengthen South Africa’s pharmaceutical sovereignty and drastically reduce production costs, thus improving affordability and accessibility of key medicines in oncology and life-threatening autoimmune diseases

Contact Afrigen

Liège (Belgium) and Cape Town (South Africa), June 4, 2024 – Bio-Sourcing, a Belgian biotech, and Afrigen Biologics, a South African biotech, today announce the signing of a partnership agreement to develop a pilot program in South Africa of a groundbreaking biotherapeutic platform, BioMilkTM. This cutting-edge platform, developed by Bio-Sourcing, is poised to redefine the landscape of healthcare solutions. BioMilk represents a significant leap forward in the development of novel therapies, aiming to address global unmet medical needs and radically improve access to biotherapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and insulin products, in South Africa.

The partners intend to create a new joint entity in South Africa to host the operations. Several public funding bodies have already expressed interest and the venture is open to additional investors. 

Afrigen, which has previously pioneered the establishment of a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine technology platform in Cape Town, and Bio-Sourcing, inventor of the technology underpinning BioMilk, believe that the platform will enable the end-to-end, manufacturing of the latest biologic medicines in South Africa, including drug substance.

Currently, biotherapeutic medicines such as mAbs are fully imported into South Africa at exorbitant prices, resulting in them being unavailable to the largest patient populations. This innovative technology aims to not only strengthen South Africa’s pharmaceutical sovereignty, but will also drastically reduce production costs, thus improving the affordability and accessibility of the essential medicines in the fields of oncology and life-threatening autoimmune diseases.

“We are thrilled to be a partner in this innovative biotherapeutic platform. It further enhances Afrigen’s commitment to improving access and affordability of the latest treatments not only for South Africans, but also other people in Africa,” said Prof Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen. “With this pilot phase, we aim to demonstrate successful technology transfer to South Africa and develop a commercial scale-up plan for producing biotherapeutics at a significantly lower cost. The BioMilk platform ideally complements the state-of-the art mRNA technology platform at Afrigen. We expect to usher in a new era of products innovation, where the latest therapies are affordable, to offer hope and healing to patients confronting complex medical challenges.”

“Bio-Sourcing’s collaboration with Afrigen, a well-known and established player in the biopharmaceutical sector, represents an important step in the deployment of Bio-Sourcing in health care. I am particularly keen to bring BioMilk technology to Africa, where its benefits in terms of investment costs, production costs and sustainability are more critical than anywhere else. I look forward to the future installation of our first bulk plant and to providing the people of South Africa and other African countries with access to the medicines they need,” said Bertrand Mérot, CEO of Bio-Sourcing.

About Afrigen Biologics

Afrigen Biologics is a leading innovator in the field of medical biotechnology, dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research and development. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, we strive to deliver transformative therapies that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.

Having successfully established the WHO Global mRNA Vaccine Development and Technology Transfer hub in South Africa, Afrigen is well on its way to locally developing and manufacturing mRNA vaccines focusing on disease burden in Africa and other low-middle-income countries. Furthermore, Afrigen, through international partnerships and local capacity building, has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent focusing on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value.

www.afrigen.co.za

About Bio-Sourcing

Bio-Sourcing is a biotechnology company that has developed a unique, sustainable and profitable platform for the production of a new generation of biotherapeutics, in particular monoclonal antibodies. Its technology platform is based on the production of biotherapeutics in goat’s milk using genome editing and nuclear transfer technologies.

Bio-Sourcing harnesses the latest advances in biotechnology and is committed to pioneering research. Bio-Sourcing’s BioMilkTM platform leverages the power of molecular biology and natural bioreactors to unlock new possibilities in biotherapeutic development and production.

For more information about Bio-Sourcing and its groundbreaking BioMilkTM biotherapeutic platform, please visit www.bio-sourcing.com or email [email protected]

 

Cape Town – January 18, 2023 – Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines is pleased to announce the appointment of Levent Selamoglu, pharmaceutical industry veteran, as chairperson of the board.

The board appointment is an important milestone in Afrigen’s growth trajectory, signaling the company’s evolution from a Cape Town-based startup to a key player in the health technology space, supported by a board chair of international repute.

Founded in 2014, Afrigen is a Cape Town-based biotechnology company initially focused on vaccine, adjuvants and nano-formulation product development and recently established the WHO global mRNA vaccine technology development and transfer Hub to build capacity and capabilities in LMICs to manufacturing mRNA vaccines. Afrigen is strategically directed, supported, and capitalized by Avacare Healthcare Group and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.

Selamoglu brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and industry expertise to the role. Highly regarded in the pharmaceutical field, he has held executive roles and board positions at, among others, GlaxoSmithKline, Frontier Pharma and Mustafa Nevzat / Amgen.

“The appointment of Levent Selamoglu to chairperson of the board is an important next step in Afrigen’s journey to becoming a vaccine and biologics product innovation brand with global reach and exposure. Not only does he bring a wealth of experience in biologics to the position, but also a calm and measured approach to innovation. His extensive experience in the functions of a vertically integrated biotechnology company will no doubt stand Afrigen in good stead as we step forward into the next growth phase,” says Professor Petro Terblanche, Managing Director at Afrigen.

Equally significant is the fact that Selamoglu understands the startup environment and the challenges that need to be managed in building Afrigen into a name on the cutting edge of biologics and product manufacturing – both on the African continent and beyond.

“Afrigen is ideally positioned – and, in fact, well on the way – to become an important international player in the biologics space and I’m delighted to be a part of that in my role as chairperson of the board. We have a mandate to deliver on a promise to address the unmet healthcare needs of low- and middle-income countries by building a vertically integrated sector that is self-sufficient and globally competitive, and I’m energized by the challenge,” Selamoglu shares.

Afrigen is committed to local capacity building through international partnerships to meet the essential healthcare needs of emerging economies.

 

Media contacts

Afrigen: Petro Terblanche – [email protected]

Irvine Partners: Delia de Villiers – [email protected]

IDC: Tshepo Ramodibe –  [email protected]

Avacare Health: Natalie Mutseyekwa – [email protected]

Webinar, Thursday 02 February 2023
13:00-15:00 GMT (UK) / 14:00-16:00 CET (Geneva) /
15:00-17:00 SAST (South Africa)

Register Here:
https://lnkd.in/dezGu9_8

Nivelles – May 3, 2023

Quantoom Biosciences S.A. (“Quantoom”), a Univercells company, is proud to announce the successful shipment from Belgium and installation of the first Ntensify™ midi system for mRNA manufacturing at Afrigen Biologics in Cape Town, South Africa. This marks a significant milestone on Quantoom’s journey to radically change the way mRNA is manufactured.

Part of the WHO initiative to launch the first African-owned mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

Within the framework of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme driven by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Quantoom has been chosen by Afrigen as the technology partner for the second-generation process and equipment. This collaboration will facilitate the development of the first African-owned mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, serving as the base for an mRNA vaccine platform that will provide equitable access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

During the first in-person meeting of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme taking place in Cape Town, over 200 participants from all around the globe, had the opportunity to visit Afrigen’s facility and were introduced to the Ntensify midi system.

This occasion also marked an important milestone for Afrigen as it was the inauguration of the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub facility in the presence of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, as well as Charles Gore Executive Director of MPP and the Honorable Ministers who took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

NtensifyTM : a game-changing technology for continuous RNA manufacture

The Ntensify midi system has a completely redesigned and optimized process for mRNA synthesis and purification. The construct-agnostic platform, used with complementary reagent pre-mixes, allows for the automated continuous production of gram-scale quantities of mRNA drug substance in a cost-effective manner. This GMP-compliant instrument is ideal for mRNA-based vaccine development and manufacturing. Quantoom is delighted to have successfully installed the Ntensify system and be able to contribute to the development of the first African-owned mRNA COVID-19 vaccine paving the way toward an mRNA vaccine platform that will ensure fair access to vaccines for LMICs.

“Our team is thrilled to have shipped and installed our first Ntensify system in Cape Town. This marks an important milestone for the company as it’s the realization of a project we started less than two years ago! Back then, we wanted to revolutionize mRNA production and find innovative ways to support vaccine manufacturing during future potential pandemics” said José Castillo, CEO of Quantoom. “The Ntensify midi system brings radical innovation to mRNA production, and its successful installation in Cape Town is a testament to Quantoom’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for global health.”

“We are delighted to partner with Quantoom for the development of the first African-owned mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The successful installation of the Ntensify system in Cape Town is a crucial step towards achieving this goal and ensuring equitable access to vaccines for LMICs. We are excited about the potential of this game-changing technology for continuous mRNA manufacturing, and we look forward to leveraging it to create a sustainable and reliable supply of vaccines in Africa,” said Prof. Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen.

Watch now the journey of the Ntensify midi system being transferred from Brussels to Cape Town.

***

About Quantoom Biosciences

Quantoom Biosciences is reinventing mRNA production by developing an RNA Platform (NfinityTM) that encompasses DNA (NplifyTM) and RNA (NtensifyTM) manufacturing and formulation (NcapsulateTM), along with critical reagent supply, from sequence to large scale production. We are a team of scientists, engineers and clinicians committed to solving some of the biggest DNA and RNA production challenges facing vaccines and therapeutics, by delivering greater access and autonomy to mRNA technology. Our facilities are strategically located in Belgium and France, in the heart of Europe, benefiting from an exceptional biotech ecosystem. Quantoom Biosciences is part of Univercells, a global life sciences Group with the mission of making biologics accessible to all”.

www.quantoom.com

Contact details Quantoom Biosciences S.A.

José Castillo

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

BE & FR Media Relations

Cécile Hisette

[email protected]

+32.473.36.14.11

  • Partnership based on a highly protective vaccine candidate identified by Evaxion’s EDENTM platform
  • The collaboration will access mRNA technology from the WHO and Medicines Patent Pool’s mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub
  • Afrigen responsible for the development and commercialization of the resulting mRNA vaccine in LMICs and African territories

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, September 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Evaxion Biotech A/S (NASDAQ: EVAX) (“Evaxion” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of AI-powered immunotherapies, today announced a collaboration with Afrigen Biologics (Afrigen). The collaboration aims at developing a prophylactic vaccine based on Evaxion’s EDEN™-discovered gonorrhea targets.
Evaxion’s Chief Scientific Officer, Birgitte Rønø, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled about this partnership. It offers a unique opportunity to deliver our EDEN™-identified antigens using mRNA and it accelerates clinical validation of the EDEN™ platform. This partnership has the potential to address a serious unmet global medical need against the pathogen for which no vaccine currently exists.”
Gonorrhea, caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a sexually transmitted disease that exerts a significant influence on global sexual and reproductive health and elevates the susceptibility to HIV, another major health problem in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an alarming estimate of 82 million new gonorrhea infections occurring annually worldwide with a rise in antibiotic-resistant cases.
The EDEN™-discovered antigens have demonstrated high levels of protection in preclinical studies. This partnership will explore the expression and biological activity of the antigens in mRNA format. Following the validation phase, the partners will negotiate a subsequent agreement for clinical development and commercialization, with the opportunity to bring in additional partners.
“We are excited to announce Evaxion’s second partnership this week. This is a further validation of our strategy to identify the right partners who can bring our novel AI-designed vaccines to the market” said Evaxion CEO, Christian Kanstrup.
Afrigen’s Managing Director, Professor Petro Terblanche, states “This innovative exciting partnership enables the mRNA technology platform established at Afrigen through the support of the WHO and MPP to expand the pipeline of products to be developed for the mRNA Programme. This supports the sustainability of manufacturing capacity being created in the LMIC partners.”
Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients’ lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit www.evaxion-biotech.com. Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients’ lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit www.evaxion-biotech.com. Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxions proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients&#8217; lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit <a href=\”http://www.evaxion-biotech.com/\”>www.evaxion-biotech.com</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxion&#8217;s proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients&#8217; lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit
Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients’ lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit www.evaxion-biotech.com. Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients’ lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit <a href=\”http://www.evaxion-biotech.com/\”>www.evaxion-biotech.comEvaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxions proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients; lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visitEvaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing world-leading AI platforms. Evaxions proprietary and scalable technologies harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. The company is committed to transforming patients; lives with unmet clinical needs by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking immunotherapies, please visit www.evaxion-biotech.com
Afrigen Biologics is a Cape Town-based biotechnology company supported and capitalized by Avacare Healthcare Group and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa. Afrigen is being supported by the WHO and MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme to operate as the Center for mRNA vaccine technology development and transfer. Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology center on the African continent. This center, in partnership with IDRI, a world leader in adjuvant development, focuses on next-generation vaccine adjuvants, which are not only geared at preventing disease, but have therapeutic value. For more information in Afrigen, please visit https://www.afrigen.co.za/.
Contact Us:
Evaxion Biotech A/S     
Christian Kanstrup                   
Chief Executive Officer 
cka@evaxion-biotech.com 
Source: Evaxion Biotech
Forward-looking statement 
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “hope,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and other words and terms of similar meaning identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, risks related to: our financial condition and need for additional capital; our development work; cost and success of our product development activities and preclinical and clinical trials; commercializing any approved pharmaceutical product developed using our AI platform technology, including the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates; our dependence on third parties including for conduct of clinical testing and product manufacture; our inability to enter into partnerships; government regulation; protection of our intellectual property rights; employee matters and managing growth; our ADSs and ordinary shares, the impact of international economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors, including inflation, and the effects on our business from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in the region surrounding Ukraine and Russia; and other uncertainties affecting our business operations and financial condition. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. 
Bristol, UK, January 23rd 2024: 
EnsiliTech is proud to announce that it has been awarded a highly competitive research contract from the UK Government’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) for the development of the world’s first thermally stable mRNA vaccine.
The ground-breaking project entitled ‘Heat proofing Immunity: Pioneering a Thermally Resilient Ensilicated mRNA-LNP Vaccine Platform’ is part of a wider call to develop vaccines and tools to fight the next pandemic. This vital work will be carried out alongside two partners, Afrigen Biologics (Cape Town, South Africa), the Centre of the  WHO/MPP mRNA technology transfer programme  developing and transferring mRNA technology to 15 manufacturing partners in LMICs, and EmerVax (Houston, USA), which specialises in the formulation of novel vaccines against neglected diseases.  Ensilitech will also partner with S-cubed Ltd, who will provide expert Regulatory Affairs Consultancy support.
Dr. Asel Sartbaeva, co-founder and CEO of EnsiliTech said: “Our mission is to democratise access to vaccines across the globe by developing the first fully thermally-stable mRNA vaccine. We are grateful to the SBRI and Innovate UK for being awarded this funding, which will help in bringing vaccines where they are needed”.  With a value of ~£1.7M/$2.1M the project will focus on the development of the world’s first vaccine against Hantaan Virus (HTNV).  HTNV is responsible for Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), a serious illness with a mortality rate of ~15%. Over 200,00 cases occur each year mainly in Asia and South America [CDC], where the incidence is growing.  
This research is funded as a UK Aid programme to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) by the Department of Health and Social Care as part of the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN).  Prof. Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen, stated “Afrigen is excited to be part of this initiative. One of Afrigen’s priorities is to make the latest biological products, such as mRNA vaccines, accessible and affordable to low-middle income countries (LMICs) and the potential to eliminate or reduce the need for cold chain logistics through ensilication technology will significantly contribute towards this goal”. 
Dr. Peter D. Weinstein, CEO of Emervax, stated “Emervax is enthusiastic about its ability to participate in this important effort with EnsiliTech and Afrigen, where Emervax will apply its novel mRNA vaccine platform technology to develop a first of its kind HTNV mRNA vaccine that will be used to help protect people throughout the world, regardless of their income, who could be exposed and suffer from this terrible and debilitating disease”. The project will have two key benefits: the prevention of thousands of cases annually of HFRS and associated deaths, and the development of a heat tolerant mRNA vaccine platform using EnsiliTech’s proprietary technology.
As demonstrated during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines have a huge potential for the prevention of infectious diseases, as well as some cancers and other previously unpreventable conditions. Currently these vaccines require ultracold storage at -70 – -80 °C. EnsiliTech’s ensilicated mRNA platform removes the need for cold storage and has the potential to revolutionize vaccine distribution, particularly in remote or resource-limited regions where maintaining cold chain storage can be challenging. EnsiliTech’s pioneering work in this field will contribute to advancing global health and improving accessibility to life-saving vaccines.
Stay tuned for updates on this groundbreaking project as EnsiliTech continues to push the boundaries of vaccine technology!
Afrigen scientists and engineers completing technical batch runs of a mRNA vaccine candidate
About EnsiliTech:
EnsiliTech is a Bristol-based startup, which spun out from the University of Bath in July 2022. In January 2023, EnsiliTech had finalised a first, oversubscribed, pre-seed investment round of £1.2M/$1.5M. This consisted of an Innovate UK grant and private investment from Science Angels Syndicate, Fink Family Office, QantX, and angels. 
About Afrigen:
Afrigen Biologics is a Cape Town-based biotechnology company supported and capitalized by Avacare Healthcare Group and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa. Afrigen is being supported by the WHO and MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme to operate as the centre for mRNA vaccine technology development and transfer. Afrigen through international partnerships and local capacity building has established the first-ever vaccine adjuvant production and formulation technology centre on the African continent. Afrigen has in the last 24 months established an end-to-end research, development and manufacturing facility for mRNA vaccine innovation and is developing mRNA vaccine candidates.
  For more information on Afrigen, please visit https://www.afrigen.co.za/.
 About EmerVax:
A spin out from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and the Galveston National Laboratory based in Galveston, Texas. Founded in 2021, EmerVax is developing vaccines against emerging viral infections with potential to cause epidemics or pandemics similar to COVID-19.
 About S-cubed:
S-cubed is a consultancy company specialising in providing Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices industries. S-cubed’s Regulatory Affairs team has extensive regulatory expertise and detailed knowledge that encompasses the full development process and have worked with numerous companies to formulate regulatory strategies, for both new chemical and biological entities, as well as repurposed medicinal products, through to registration and beyond.
About the UK Vaccine Network:
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the UK Government department which is responsible for helping people to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. This investment is part of the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN). UKVN was established to provide funding to support the development of promising vaccines and vaccine technologies that will help combat infectious diseases that have epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). UKVN is an UK Aid investment, which means all projects funded must support research primarily and directly for the benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
About Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI):
SBRI supports research and development of solutions to public sector challenges. Any organisation of any size can apply for funding.
If you’d like to find out more about our technology, or explore partnership opportunities, contact [email protected]