Argentinian manufacturer Sinergium Biotech to lead efforts in developing mRNA vaccine candidates for avian influenza, with the aim of sharing technology and expertise with other low-and middle-income countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) have announced a new project aimed at accelerating the development and accessibility of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine candidates for human avian influenza (H5N1). Launched on 29 July 2024, this initiative is part of the broader mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, which seeks to build capacity in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) for the development and production of mRNA-based vaccines.
Expanding global vaccine development capacity
The project will be spearheaded by Sinergium Biotech, an Argentinian manufacturer and partner in the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme. Sinergium Biotech has already developed candidate H5N1 vaccines and is working to establish proof-of-concept in preclinical models. Once the preclinical data package is complete, the technology, materials, and expertise will be shared with other manufacturing partners.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, emphasised the importance of this initiative: “This initiative exemplifies why WHO established the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme – to foster greater research, development and production in low-and middle-income countries, so that when the next pandemic arrives, the world will be better prepared to mount a more effective and more equitable response.”
Avian influenza viruses pose a significant public health risk due to their widespread circulation in animals and potential to cause a future pandemic. This development complements ongoing work under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, which aims to improve the sharing of influenza viruses with human pandemic potential and increase LMIC access to vaccines.
The project’s focus on H5N1 is particularly timely, given the recent increase in human cases of avian influenza and the virus’s potential for pandemic spread. By developing mRNA vaccine candidates for H5N1, the initiative aims to strengthen global preparedness for potential influenza pandemics.
Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing
Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP, highlighted the programme’s goals, saying: “When we created the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with WHO, our goal was to enable low-and middle-income countries to lead development efforts, foster collaboration, share resources, and disseminate knowledge. This project embodies our vision and demonstrates a strong commitment to future pandemic preparedness and response.”
The initiative also underscores the importance of geographical diversification in health technology innovation and production. Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization, noted the significance of recognising capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the importance of early planning for access and sharing of knowledge and technologies during research and development processes.
Since its inception, the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme has made significant progress in developing and implementing a platform for establishing the immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of vaccine candidates in preclinical animal models. This platform, created and validated at Afrigen, is now being transferred to manufacturing partners for adaptation and enhancement for other critical disease targets.
Sinergium Biotech’s role
Dr Alejandro Gil, Chief Executive Officer of Sinergium, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating: “Sinergium’s enhanced capacity and readiness to apply our expertise to H5N1 will play a vital role in this effort towards global pandemic preparedness. We are excited to tackle this public health challenge, and our R&D team will continue to work closely with the Programme Partners.” As the project progresses, Sinergium Biotech will work on developing and refining H5N1 mRNA vaccine candidates, with the ultimate goal of sharing their findings and technology with other manufacturing partners in LMICs. This collaborative approach aims to accelerate the development of H5N1 vaccine candidates globally and strengthen pandemic preparedness efforts.
