Under the new agreement, the National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes (ANLIS-Malbrán) in Argentina will develop lipid nanoparticles, which are essential for the national production of mRNA vaccines. This collaboration aims to strengthen and increase capacities for future development and production of mRNA vaccines for regional use. The agreement was signed by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and Argentine health, science, and technology authorities.
Dr. Barbosa stated that this agreement will strengthen the mRNA vaccine production ecosystem and ensure greater sustainability for PAHO’s technology transfer project in Argentina. He also highlighted that developing these vaccines locally will help reduce dependence on other countries for this technology, ultimately leading to more equitable access to vaccines in the region.
The agreement is part of PAHO’s Regional Platform to Advance the Manufacturing of Vaccines and other Health Technologies. It complements the technology transfer program of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for developing mRNA vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. Sinergium Biotech from Argentina and Bio-Manguinhos from Brazil are among the participants in this initiative.
ANLIS-Malbrán, under Argentina’s Ministry of Health, will now be involved in the production chain by developing lipid nanoparticles that are crucial for mRNA vaccine production. PAHO, with support from Canadian Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE), will provide ANLIS-Malbrán with necessary equipment and resources to produce these nanoparticles. This collaboration aims to improve sustainability by reducing reliance on external suppliers.
During the meeting, Argentine Health Minister Carla Vizzotti expressed her appreciation for being selected alongside Brazil as a recipient country for mRNA vaccine technology transfer. She emphasized that this agreement is a result of collaborative efforts between various organizations within Argentina’s health sector.
Argentina’s commitment to guaranteeing universal access to healthcare has driven its industrial and scientific talent to develop new solutions. Fernando Peirano, the president of Agencia I+D+I, highlighted the importance of Argentina’s participation in this project and mentioned that the agency will contribute through research development and capacity building.
The signing of the agreement took place during Dr. Barbosa’s official visit to Argentina, which also includes a tour of the Sinergium Biotech plant to observe the progress of the project.
To further advance regional production of mRNA vaccines, PAHO, Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation), and Butantan Institute have jointly launched a course on vaccine development and production for human resources in Mercosur countries. This initiative aims to strengthen capabilities in vaccine production within the region.
In July, PAHO signed an agreement with Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz for preclinical trials of an mRNA vaccine being developed in Brazil. If proven safe and effective, this technology could be licensed free of charge to low- and middle-income countries in the region.
This collaboration between PAHO, ANLIS-Malbrán, and other organizations signifies a significant step towards regional self-sufficiency in producing mRNA vaccines. It not only strengthens local capacities but also ensures equitable access to life-saving vaccines for all countries involved.
Based on the report, this partnership represents a crucial milestone in advancing technical cooperation between PAHO and Argentina to enhance regional production capabilities for mRNA vaccines Pan American Health Organization.
