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Vaccine body to boost SA's export edge
Tamar Kahn
2003-10-02

The health department launched the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa yesterday - a R500m public-private partnership between government and a group of healthcare companies called the Biovac Consortium, aimed at revitalising local vaccine manufacturing capacity. The Biovac Consortium is led by Biovac Holdings, the only wholly South African-owned vaccine importer and distributor, and includes Heber Biotec (Cuba), UK-based VaxIntel and the Disability Concerns Trust, an empowerment investment trust representing 4,5-million disabled people. Government has a 40% equity stake in the business. The institute will upgrade facilities at the former State Vaccine Institute in Pinelands, Cape Town, and over the next five years will begin manufacturing vaccines to meet its obligations as the state's preferred provider for its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). The vaccines include diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), which are combined to make a vaccine called DTP; hepatitis B and haemophillus influenza, which protects against meningitis Initially all the vaccines will be imported, and then labelled, packaged and distributed, but the institute plans to make combination vaccines on site, and ultimately hopes to manufacture local vaccines too, according to the institute's CEO, Selwyn Kahanovitz. The Biovac Consortium has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative, to pave the way for local manufacture should a successful HIV/AIDS vaccine be found. The consortium also plans to establish a vaccine research and development facility through a business unit called Probiotech, which will be manufacturing vaccines for clinical trials. (Source: Tamar Kahn: Business Day, 30 September 2003) The health department launched the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa yesterday - a R500m public-private partnership between government and a group of healthcare companies called the Biovac Consortium, aimed at revitalising local vaccine manufacturing capacity. The Biovac Consortium is led by Biovac Holdings, the only wholly South African-owned vaccine importer and distributor, and includes Heber Biotec (Cuba), UK-based VaxIntel and the Disability Concerns Trust, an empowerment investment trust representing 4,5-million disabled people. Government has a 40% equity stake in the business. The institute will upgrade facilities at the former State Vaccine Institute in Pinelands, Cape Town, and over the next five years will begin manufacturing vaccines to meet its obligations as the state's preferred provider for its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). The vaccines include diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), which are combined to make a vaccine called DTP; hepatitis B and haemophillus influenza, which protects against meningitis Initially all the vaccines will be imported, and then labelled, packaged and distributed, but the institute plans to make combination vaccines on site, and ultimately hopes to manufacture local vaccines too, according to the institute's CEO, Selwyn Kahanovitz. The Biovac Consortium has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative, to pave the way for local manufacture should a successful HIV/AIDS vaccine be found. The consortium also plans to establish a vaccine research and development facility through a business unit called Probiotech, which will be manufacturing vaccines for clinical trials. (Source: Tamar Kahn: Business Day, 30 September 2003)

Biovac Consortium is R500m venture

The health department launched the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa yesterday - a R500m public-private partnership between government and a group of healthcare companies called the Biovac Consortium, aimed at revitalising local vaccine manufacturing capacity.

The Biovac Consortium is led by Biovac Holdings, the only wholly South African-owned vaccine importer and distributor, and includes Heber Biotec (Cuba), UK-based VaxIntel and the Disability Concerns Trust, an empowerment investment trust representing 4,5-million disabled people. Government has a 40% equity stake in the business.

SA used to make vaccines at the State Vaccine Institute, the South African Institute for Medical Research and the National Institute for Virology, but by 2001 all three facilities had ceased vaccine production.

The reasons for their closure ranged from lack of skills and technology to insufficient funding. As a result of their closure SA was forced to import all its human vaccines.

The institute will upgrade facilities at the former State Vaccine Institute in Pinelands, Cape Town, and over the next five years will begin manufacturing vaccines to meet its obligations as the state's preferred provider for its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

The vaccines include diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), which are combined to make a vaccine called DTP; hepatitis B and haemophillus influenza, which protects against meningitis. Initially all the vaccines will be imported, and then labelled, packaged and distributed, but the institute plans to make combination vaccines on site, and ultimately hopes to manufacture local vaccines too, according to the institute's CEO, Selwyn Kahanovitz.

The Biovac Consortium has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative, to pave the way for local manufacture should a successful HIV/AIDS vaccine be found.

The consortium also plans to establish a vaccine research and development facility through a business unit called Probiotech, which will be manufacturing vaccines for clinical trials.

Nick Allen, chief operating officer of Acorn Technologies, says this will fill an important gap in the vaccine- delivery value chain, because there are currently no local facilities with this capability. Acorn assisted Probiotech to secure funding of about R45m from the Industrial Development Corporation, Cape Biotech and the Biovac Consortium.

Although Probiotech's business unit has not yet been formally established, it is already negotiating a contract from the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Fund. Local biotechnology firms such as MeyerZall have also shown interest.

Vaccines are the cornerstone of any public health programme and are responsible for saving more lives than any other technology, said Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. (Source: Business Day, 30 September 2003)

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