The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing $40m in funding to advance the accessibility of Quantoom Biosciences’ affordable mRNA vaccine research and manufacturing platform.

The platform was developed with an early-research Grand Challenges grant awarded to its parent company, Univercells.

The new investments will advance access to mRNA research and vaccine manufacturing technology that will support the capacity of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop vaccines at scale.

Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar and South Africa’s Biovac, both experienced in vaccine manufacturing, will each receive a $5m grant to acquire the technology to develop locally relevant vaccines.

Quantoom Biosciences will receive $20m to further advance the technology and reduce commercialisation costs.

The foundation will grant a further $10m to other LMIC vaccine manufacturers.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The new funding builds on its earlier $55m investment in mRNA manufacturing technology.

Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana stated: “This collaboration will help close critical gaps in access to promising mRNA vaccines against diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest.

“It will also assist us in our mission to establish end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capability at scale in Africa for global supply.”

Leveraging Univercells’ original vaccine manufacturing technology, IPD intends to begin manufacturing essential measles and rubella vaccines.

IPD CEO Dr Amadou Sall stated: “Expanding our capacity to discover and manufacture affordable mRNA vaccines in Africa is an important and necessary step towards vaccine self-reliance in the region.”

Editorial content is independently produced and follows the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Topic sponsors are not involved in the creation of editorial content.