Argentina Locally Produced COVID-19 Vaccine Is Approved

By Estudio Chaloupka

Argentina's development of its own locally produced COVID-19 vaccine, ARVAC-CG, is a significant achievement, not only for the country but also for the global fight against the pandemic.

ARVAC-CG is one of a few COVID-19 vaccines to be developed and produced in a developing country, and it is a testament to the importance of patents and intellectual property in stimulating innovation and ensuring access to life-saving vaccines.

ARVAC-CG was approved for emergency use in Argentina in October 2022 and for full use in October 2023. It has been shown to be safe and effective against COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. The final approval was decided by the National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Technology, the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of drugs, foods, medical devices, and cosmetics in Argentina.

By partnering with Argentine pharmaceutical companies, Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) was able to leverage its intellectual property to bring ARVAC-CG to market. 

"It is a milestone in the history of Argentine science and technology. ARVAC-CG is the first vaccine to complete all stages of development, from research at a public university, industrial biotechnological production, and clinical research, to the registration authorization," the CONICET stated in a press release.