Building Local Biomanufacturing Capacity In South Africa

By Jennifer Brant, Innovation Insights, and David Marion, Uptown Communications Consultants

Currently, African producers manufacture only one percent of the vaccines used in Africa, a mere tenth of one percent of the global supply. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for robust vaccine manufacturing capacity across the continent to effectively respond to health crises. This white paper focuses on the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa (Biovac), a South African biopharmaceutical company, tracing its strategic evolution from a vaccine supplier to a manufacturer and innovator in the biopharmaceutical field.

Biovac's journey underscores the importance of leveraging the existing capabilities of over a dozen companies across Africa, which have experience in filling and finishing products, producing drug substances, and conducting R&D. African political leaders have prioritized building manufacturing capacity, recognizing that biomanufacturers must produce other health products, such as routine vaccinations, to sustain operations between crises.

The processes, partnerships, and technology transfers that have driven Biovac's progress are highlighted and serve as a blueprint for sustainably expanding the manufacturing capacity of biologics in Africa and other developing regions. At a time when global, regional, and national policymakers and funders are heavily invested in extending biomanufacturing capacity, Biovac's experience provides valuable insights into public policies and other factors that support capacity building.

Access the full white paper to learn more about Biovac's transformative journey and the lessons learned.