Boosting the production of mRNA vaccines in Argentina

By Estudio Chaloupka

The Ministry of Health of Argentina organized an event with the World Health Organization (WHO) the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Medicines Patent Pool and the local industry with the aim of analyzing strategies for research, development and production of new vaccines in the country using mRNA technology.

Vaccine manufacturers from Argentina and Brazil became in 2021 the first to receive technology transfer with the goal of boosting the production of mRNA vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. The selection is the result of an WHO call for expression of interest inviting manufacturers and research institutions to contribute to the establishment of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hubs in emerging economies. The initiative was supported by PAHO/WHO global partners such as the Medicines Patent Pool.

As part of the mRNA technology transfer hub programme, a group of scientists from Argentina’s travelled last year to Cape Town, South Africa, to learn about lab-scale mRNA manufacturing process, including formulation of lipid nanoparticles and data analytics, as well as the production and control of vaccines using mRNA technology.

The idea behind the mRNA technology transfer hub programme is that dozens of companies or “spokes” from low- and middle-income countries around the world will learn how to produce their own mRNA vaccine to fight current and future pandemics.

WHO and partners are providing training and financial support to build the necessary human capital for production know-how, quality control and product regulation, and will assist where needed with the necessary licenses.