JODI WINDVOGEL

Collaborating with the University of the Witwatersrand, scientists at Afrigen reverse-engineered the Moderna vaccine. This process was permitted under South African law, which allows research and development regardless of patent protection.

The choice of Moderna's vaccine was strategic, owing to its abundant public information and Moderna's commitment not to enforce Covid-related patents in select low and middle-income countries. The replica vaccine has shown promising results in mouse trials, setting the stage for potential human trials.

The WHO mRNA hub in Cape Town plans to disseminate its knowledge to 15 to 20 "spokes" across Africa, Latin America, and eastern Europe, establishing a network of scientists for local mRNA vaccine production. This initiative extends beyond Covid, with ambitions to apply mRNA technology to combat diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.

The hub addresses the glaring issue of vaccine inequity, aiming to reduce reliance on wealthier countries for vaccine supply. It's a response to the realization that the existing model, dominated by high-income countries, is limiting and potentially dangerous in a global health crisis.

However, the initiative faces challenges, particularly in convincing governments to initially invest in potentially more expensive locally-produced doses. Additionally, the project's freedom to operate is threatened by legal disputes with Moderna over patents.

Despite these hurdles, Afrigen and its partners are forging ahead in their mission to democratize vaccine production, with Emile Hendricks and his team at the forefront of this groundbreaking effort.