Covid-19 and mRNA technology are helping Africa fix its vaccine problems

Bryce, Emma

doi:10.1136/bmj.o1196

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“… 18 Encouragingly, a mRNA vaccine hub was launched in 2022, which includes various countries in Africa. 19 The hub was devised as an incubator for the development of Africa’s first COVID-19 vaccine, starting with crafting a unique version of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. This technology would also be applied to the research of other vaccine candidates against infections such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases that currently affect the region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial among SARS-CoV-2 seronegative and seropositive individuals in Uganda utilizing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform: Screening and enrollment experiences

Kitonsa,

Kamacooko,

Ruzagira

et al. 2023

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We report the screening and enrollment process for a phase I vaccine trial in Masaka, Uganda that investigated the safety and immunogenicity of a self-amplifying SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccine amongst individuals with and without antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Participant screening and enrollment were conducted between December 2021 and April 2022. Individuals were eligible if they were aged between 18 and 45 years, healthy, and never vaccinated against COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 antibody status was determined using two point-of-care rapid tests, i.e. Multi G (MGFT3) and Standard Q (Standard Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG Plus). Data were entered and managed in OpenClinica. Analyses were performed and presented descriptively. A total of 212 individuals were screened and 43(20.3%) enrolled. The most common reasons for exclusion were ≥ grade 1 laboratory abnormalities (39, 18.4%), followed by discordant SARS-CoV-2 antibody results (23, 10.9%). While the first 38 participants were quickly enrolled over a period of 9 weeks, it took another 9 weeks to enroll the remaining five, as antibody negative participants became scarce during the surge of the Omicron variant. The SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity rate was determined to be 60.8% and 84.4% in each half of the 18 months of screening respectively. The mean age (±Standard Deviation, SD) of screened and enrolled participants was 27.7 (±8.1) and 30.2 (±8.3) years respectively. We demonstrated that it is feasible to successfully screen and enroll participants for COVID-19 vaccine trials in Uganda in the time of a pandemic. Our experiences may be useful for investigators planning to undertake similar work in Africa.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial among SARS-CoV-2 seronegative and seropositive individuals in Uganda utilizing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform: Screening and enrollment experiences

Kitonsa,

Kamacooko,

Ruzagira

et al. 2023

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Bhutta explains, “MRNA vaccines came in during the pandemic, but it has taken time and a lot of international effort to get the technology shared with [the vaccines hub started in] South Africa 8. I would like to see a lot more research and development happening in other low and middle income countries and, to some extent, some reverse osmosis of learning and gains which also derive from experiences in those very geographies who struggle to access the fruits of research.”…”

Section: “Past” Is Still Presentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decolonisation: London’s famous school of “tropical medicine” and its uncomfortable identity

Looi

2023

BMJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted Africa’s dependence on global partners for vaccines and therapies, and a lack of local infrastructure for pandemic/epidemic preparedness. To establish local vaccine manufacturing capabilities in lower middle- and low-income countries, the WHO in association with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and the Act-Accelerator/COVAX have launched the mRNA technology transfer program ( 202 – 204 ). The main objective of the program is to establish local COVID-19 mRNA vaccine manufacturing capacity, with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia listed as the first recipients of the technology in Africa ( Figure 5 ).…”

Section: Application Of Mrna Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing mRNA technologies for therapies and vaccines: An African context

Kairuz

Samudh²,

Ely³

et al. 2022

Front. Immunol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Synthetic mRNA technologies represent a versatile platform that can be used to develop advanced drug products. The remarkable speed with which vaccine development programs designed and manufactured safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines has rekindled interest in mRNA technology, particularly for future pandemic preparedness. Although recent R&D has focused largely on advancing mRNA vaccines and large-scale manufacturing capabilities, the technology has been used to develop various immunotherapies, gene editing strategies, and protein replacement therapies. Within the mRNA technologies toolbox lie several platforms, design principles, and components that can be adapted to modulate immunogenicity, stability, in situ expression, and delivery. For example, incorporating modified nucleotides into conventional mRNA transcripts can reduce innate immune responses and improve in situ translation. Alternatively, self-amplifying RNA may enhance vaccine-mediated immunity by increasing antigen expression. This review will highlight recent advances in the field of synthetic mRNA therapies and vaccines, and discuss the ongoing global efforts aimed at reducing vaccine inequity by establishing mRNA manufacturing capacity within Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.

show abstract

Covid-19 and mRNA technology are helping Africa fix its vaccine problems

Abstract: After the disastrous effect of vaccine nationalism on access in Africa, boosting local production is key to preventing a repeat in future pandemics. WHO’s new mRNA vaccine hub is at the forefront, report Emma Bryce and Sandy Ong

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

A phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial among SARS-CoV-2 seronegative and seropositive individuals in Uganda utilizing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform: Screening and enrollment experiences

A phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial among SARS-CoV-2 seronegative and seropositive individuals in Uganda utilizing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform: Screening and enrollment experiences

Decolonisation: London’s famous school of “tropical medicine” and its uncomfortable identity

Advancing mRNA technologies for therapies and vaccines: An African context

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About