Sanofi and Biovac Forge Partnership to Manufacture Polio Vaccines in Africa

Sanofi and Biovac, a prominent biopharmaceutical company based in Cape Town, have announced a significant collaboration to establish a local manufacturing facility for inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) in Africa. This pioneering initiative aims to cater to the immunization needs of over 40 African countries, marking Biovac as the continent's first African producer of IPV.

This strategic alliance is set to bolster the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's goal of locally producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines by 2040. Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President of Vaccines at Sanofi, highlighted the importance of this partnership, especially in the context of recovering from the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on routine pediatric vaccinations. "Our collaboration with Biovac is a proactive step towards ensuring that Africa is not only equipped to manage polio but also prepared for future global health challenges," Triomphe commented.

Dr. Morena Makhoana, CEO of Biovac, expressed pride in this partnership, emphasizing its significance in empowering Africa to lead the charge against polio. "This collaboration enhances our manufacturing capabilities, allowing us to deliver vaccines directly from Africa to Africans, which is crucial for rapid response to public health needs," said Makhoana.

The partnership is also supported by Sanofi’s longstanding commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which has been instrumental since 1988. Sanofi has supplied over 1.5 billion doses of IPV globally, significantly contributing to the near eradication of polio.

Under the agreement, Sanofi will continue to produce the bulk of IPV while Biovac will handle the late-stage formulation, filling, packaging, and distribution. This will include the delivery of millions of IPV doses to UNICEF for GAVI-supported countries in Africa.

Biovac's role extends beyond production; as a Centre of Excellence, it will also focus on developing vaccines and biological products that cater to the broader needs of the African continent and beyond. Established in 2003 in collaboration with the South African government, Biovac aims to revitalize local human vaccine production and development capabilities in Southern Africa.

The initiative reflects a significant stride in medical self-sufficiency for Africa, aiming to ensure that the continent's countries are no longer just consumers of imported vaccines but active participants in their production. The global push towards eradicating polio has seen tremendous success over the past three decades, with a 99% reduction in cases worldwide, thanks to initiatives like these.