Sanofi and Biovac, a South African biopharmaceutical company based in Cape Town, have announced a partnership to manufacture inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) locally in Africa. This collaboration aims to support more than 40 African countries by ensuring regional production of IPV. With Sanofi's support, Biovac will become the primary IPV producer on African soil, aligning with the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's goal to have 60% of vaccine production localized by 2040.

Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President of Vaccines at Sanofi, highlighted their long-term commitment to global polio eradication efforts, noting the significant disruptions to vaccination programs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the partnership's importance in preparing Biovac to meet future international vaccine supply demands.

Biovac, expressed pride in the partnership, describing Biovac's role as pivotal in African polio eradication efforts tailored to local needs.

Sanofi, a key partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988, has supplied over 1.5 billion doses of IPV globally through GAVI, aiming to vaccinate populations in over 70 of the world's poorest countries to eliminate polio.

Established in 2003 with collaboration from the South African government, Biovac specializes in vaccine development and production for Africa and beyond. Polio primarily affects young children and can lead to severe paralysis and death, underscoring the critical importance of vaccination.

Through global vaccination efforts over the past 30 years, 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated, resulting in a 99% reduction in polio cases worldwide. As of late 2023, only Afghanistan and Pakistan remained endemic. This progress has prevented nearly 20 million people from paralysis, highlighting ongoing global efforts toward eradication.

 

Source: globenewswire.com

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