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• New funding supports technology transfer from Serum Institute to Aspen to manufacture routine vaccines in Africa, for Africa
• Collaboration supports sustainable manufacturing capacity for African-produced vaccines for future epidemics and pandemics

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Durban, South Africa��–��JSE Limited listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (“Aspen”) a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, ��announced that it will receive USD30 million from the (”the Gates Foundation”) and the (“CEPI”) to support its capabilities to manufacture lifesaving routine and outbreak vaccines for Africa.

The new funding from CEPI and the Gates Foundation, which includes USD15��million from each organization, will support a ten-year agreement between ����vlog and (“Serum Institute”) that aims to expand the supply and sourcing of affordable vaccines manufactured in Africa.

Through the partnership with Serum Institute, Aspen will manufacture and distribute four routine vaccines in Africa — Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Polyvalent Meningococcal, and Hexavalent — with technology transfer activities initiating in early 2023. In addition to supporting the technology transfer of these routine vaccines, the funding from CEPI and the Gates Foundation will help sustain regional vaccine manufacturing capacity at Aspen for potential future outbreak response, with the intention of securing early access to African-produced vaccines in the event of a future public health emergency.

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Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive, said, “We thank both CEPI and the Gates Foundation for their commitment to support regional manufacture for Africa.�� Their commitment, together with our partnership with Serum, is an important first step in ensuring expanded and enduring equitable access to a pipeline of medicines and vaccines manufactured in Africa for Africans. Aspen has a proven capability of being at the forefront of pandemic preparedness for the Continent – from ARVs to COVID vaccines. This support will ensure we can continue to invest and expand our capacities, secure in the knowledge of future offtakes.”

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Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director Africa CDC said, “Africa CDC welcomes and wishes to congratulate Aspen, the Gates Foundation and CEPI on the conclusion of their respective agreements. These landmark agreements are a demonstration of Africa’s, and in this instance, Aspen’s ambition to further enhance Africa’s vaccine localisation efforts, its intention to diversify the pipeline for Africa-specific vaccines and to improve Africa’s ability to respond to pandemic outbreaks.�� All these are critical elements to establishing health security and security of supply on the African continent in line with the vision of our New Public Health Order.”

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“The urgent need to diversify vaccine manufacturing so every region can manage its own health security is one of the most significant learnings from the inequity of the COVID-19 pandemic response,” said Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI. “CEPI is working with our partners at Africa CDC ��to support the expansion of vaccine manufacturing on the continent, and our collaboration with Aspen, the Gates Foundation and Serum Institute will help to deliver a sustainable and resilient business model capable of both producing routine and outbreak vaccines in Africa, for Africa .”

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“Expanding the availability of affordable, high-quality vaccines that meet the needs of local communities is one of the best ways to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable deaths,” said Mark Suzman, Chief Executive Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We’re very pleased to support this agreement between ����vlog and Serum Institute, which has the potential to expand vaccine production and supply in Africa, increase vaccination rates, improve pandemic preparedness, and broadly strengthen global health security.”

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Over the past two decades, the increased globalization of vaccine manufacturing has generated more reliable vaccine supplies at a lower cost, helping many countries around the world reach more people with lifesaving vaccines.�� In Africa, however, 99% of all vaccines administered are currently imported. Because lifesaving vaccines and treatments are not available or affordable everywhere, vaccine-preventable diseases continue to have a devastating impact on the region.�� Last year, African leaders, civil society, the private sector, and organizations such as the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control laid out a vision to expand regional manufacturing capacity, including an ambitious plan to produce 60% of the continent’s vaccines locally by 2040 and the launch of the (“PAVM”), as well as a call for supranational funders and procurement agencies to source at least 30% of their requirements from African manufacturers.�� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� ����

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Durban, South Africa��–��JSE Limited listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company,��is pleased to announce that one of its wholly-owned South African subsidiaries, Aspen SA��Operations (Pty) Limited (“Aspen SA Operations”), has concluded a ten-year agreement (“the Agreement”) with�� (“the Serum Institute”), the world’s largest vaccine producer, for Aspen SA Operations to manufacture, market and distribute four Aspen-branded routine vaccines in Africa, excluding certain markets due to the Serum Institute having granted prior rights to third parties.

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The terms of Agreement for the vaccines, namely Pneumococcal Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, Poly valent Meningococcal Vaccine and Hexavalent Vaccine (“the Products”), include a technical transfer and formulation, fill and finish arrangement which grants Aspen SA Operations the rights to:

(i)������������manufacture the Products from bulk drug substance supplied by the Serum Institute; and��

(ii)����������make available the Products to markets in Africa by means of transactions with designated multilateral organisations, national governments of , and other public and private market customers.��

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Under the Agreement, Aspen SA Operations has secured a license to the enabling know how from the Serum Institute and there is a good faith undertaking between the Parties to discuss the expansion of the Agreement to include new products or new versions of the Products.��

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In addition to the Agreement, ����vlog also anticipates receiving grant funding from the (”the Gates Foundation”) and the (“CEPI”) to support African regional manufacturing capacity for the affordable supply of vaccines to, among others, African countries and Gavi / UNICEF, as well as contributing to pandemic preparedness through rights to a share of Aspen’s vaccine manufacturing capacity over a period of ten years.

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According to currently less than , yet through GAVI, UNICEF, COVAX and the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (“AVATT”), hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine are supplied to African countries to support both the Expanded Programme on Immunization (“EPI”), protecting children from a range of vaccine preventable diseases, as well as the provision of COVID-19 vaccines for the general population.

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Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Africa has learnt from the experience of previous pandemics including HIV and now COVID, that regional capacities are fundamental to solving regional health challenges. The agreement concluded with the Serum Institute, and the anticipated grant funding from the Gates Foundation and CEPI, complement our previously stated commitment to expand sustainable and durable vaccine manufacturing on the continent to reduce Africa’s global vaccine dependency. We look forward to partnering with Adar and the Serum Institute. They are the largest manufacturers of vaccines globally and have a proven record of supporting universal healthcare. Aspen is now well-positioned as a first mover to contribute to Continental and, by implication, global health security through the provision of world-class, competitive and proven vaccine manufacturing capability and capacity.”

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The Products will be produced at Aspen’s manufacturing facility in Gqeberha which has accreditation from a range of stringent international regulatory authorities and provides medicines and vaccines to improve the health and quality of life of patients in both the domestic and international markets.

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Adar Poonawalla, The Serum Institute CEO, said�� “We are pleased to be partnering with ����vlog and to support them in fulfilling their vaccine ambitions for Africa. We endorse their efforts to contribute towards reducing the Continent’s global vaccine dependency and we are confident that the Products will provide enhanced opportunities of wellbeing for all patients in Africa.”

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Mark Suzman, Chief Executive Officer, Gates Foundation, said, “Despite significant successes in expanding access to vaccines and reducing child mortality, the recent inequities exposed by the COVID pandemic have clearly highlighted the need to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own life-saving vaccines. As a critical step to closing this gap we are proud to be able to provide financial and technical support to this new partnership between the Serum Institute of India and ����vlog and look forward to working closely with them and other regional partners to expand the supply and sources of vaccines for African and global markets going forward. This is in line with our work over two decades with a range of partners, including GAVI and Serum, to help build a diversified ecosystem to develop, manufacture and distribute high-quality, low-cost vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.”

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Dr Richard Hatchett, CEPI Chief Executive Officer, added “CEPI’s partnership with Aspen, SII, and BMGF is an exciting step towards expanding vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa, for Africa. This partnership will enhance the region’s health security and represents an important step towards preventing the kind of gross inequities of access to lifesaving vaccines that emerged during the pandemic.

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“Manufacturers need sustainable and resilient business models between outbreaks, so their facilities and workforce can be ready to spring into action when needed during an epidemic or pandemic, and public sector investment will be key to unlocking this sustainability in Africa. We are proud to be part of an effort that will secure critically needed vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa, for Africa, so that it can be ready when it faces future epidemic or pandemic threats.”

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On 10 May 2022, for agencies responsible for bulk purchasing of vaccines to offtake at least 30% of all vaccines produced by Africa for global consumption. In Africa, 99% of all vaccines administered are currently imported. Enhancing access to medicines is at the forefront on Aspen’s ESG strategy.

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“Africa is a significant consumer of a range of vaccines and demand will grow further in the next decade, yet the vast bulk of those vaccines are sourced from outside the continent. The Covid pandemic laid bare Africa’s vulnerability when supplies are constrained globally. We therefore welcome the announcement of the partnership for the production of routine vaccines by Aspen,” said Mr Ebrahim Patel, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

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“The South African government has worked closely with the domestic pharma industry and other partners on the continent to strengthen vaccine supply security, reduce reliance on imports, improve access to vaccines and kickstart the biotechnology sector in SA and on the continent. This development is consistent with these ambitions and is a significant first step to the African Union achieving its stated objective of reducing vaccine imports from 99% to 40% by 2040. We look forward to global and continental procurement agencies shifting their sourcing to help achieve the 40% African production objective,” Minister Patel said.

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Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director, Africa CDC said “We are very pleased to hear about the announcement by Aspen that it will Manufacture and make available four Routine Vaccine for Communicable diseases in Africa.

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This is a very important step for African Vaccines Manufacture and is in line with�� three important aspects of Africa CDC’s Work.�� Firstly, it has responded to the AU Heads of State call for 30% of Vaccines for Africa are to be procured from African Producers.�� Secondly, it is in line with the goals and ambitions of an African Partnership on Vaccine Manufacture to expand access on the Continent. Lastly, it is in line with the African new order of strengthening local Manufacture of all health products including Vaccines. I Congratulate Aspen on this very important step and look forward to stimulating further Vaccine Manufacture on the African Continent.”

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Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation Regional Director, said, “Unlike any other health emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the dangers of the continent’s continuing dependency on health commodities produced elsewhere, and compelled the need for Africa to enhance its local manufacturing capacity. We welcome this initiative as it marks a critical milestone in the continent’s push for self-sufficiency in vaccines, diagnostic and therapeutic products.”

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Strive Masiyiwa, Head of AVATT said, “During the height of the pandemic it became clear to myself and my AVATT colleagues set up by the AU Chair President Cyril Ramaphosa, that the only way to secure vaccines early was through production facilities on the African continent. This was because nations that had such production facilities were restricting exports until such time as they had met the needs of their own citizens. ��Aspen emerged at the time as the largest pharmaceutical company in Africa which had the full capability and capacity to respond to Africa’s desperate situation and began to produce the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on behalf of the continent.��We at AVATT are so pleased with this latest development as it is yet another major milestone in ensuring that Africa has capacity on the ground to meet vaccine demand should another crisis emerge again.”

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“The Secretariat of the AU COVID-19 Commission wishes to extend its congratulations to Aspen for this important development. The COVID-19 Commission set out to position Africa as a biotech investment destination and we are excited to see this manifesting as ����vlog and the Serum Institute announce this ground breaking partnership. The COVID-19 Commission will continue to work together with the Partnership on Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing (“PAVM”) and other partners towards the goal of producing 60% of Africa’s required vaccine on African soil by 2040,” said Dr Lwazi Manzi, Head of the AU COVID 19 Commission Secretariat

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent , have underscored the need for continental vaccine research and development as well as manufacturing to be expanded and supported. As recognised by the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (“PAVM”), a foundation of consistent, ongoing routine vaccination demand is required to manage the outbreak, epidemic and pandemic vaccine manufacturing capability and capacity needed to support regional and global health security.

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Click to access an announcement message from each of the following stakeholders:

Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Gates Foundation

Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director of the Africa, CDC

Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, CEPI

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Monkeypox was declared a PHEIC by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference on 23 July 2022. The announcement was made given the rapid spread of the virus which has increased from 3 040 cases in 47 countries in June 2022 to more than 16 000 reported cases from 75 countries and territories, with five deaths reported. 

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Aspen has always been at the forefront of providing healthcare solutions for global pandemics, as we did with the launch of one of the first generic antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV/Aids in August 2003. We also responded swiftly and decisively to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, initially through global contributions which we made with both our anaesthetics portfolio and dexamethasone supply. This action complemented our initiatives to build capacity and expertise to support global efforts and, in particular, address vaccine access inequality. This was achieved through partnership and licensing arrangements culminating in the potential to manufacture and supply the first and only locally finished COVID-19 vaccine, , in Africa for Africa.”

“Aspen once again stands ready to support the global effort needed to contain the latest threat which monkeypox represents, and we are available to do so through collaborations that would utilise our world class sterile and vaccine manufacturing facilities.”

Aspen has invested significantly in its sterile manufacturing site in Gqeberha, this being the single largest investment in the pharmaceutical industry in South Africa. The sterile facility, which was in March 2021, contains high-technology, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical equipment and systems to manufacture advanced sterile medicines, including vaccines. 

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Durban, South Africa – JSE Limited listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, is pleased to confirm that one of its wholly-owned South African subsidiaries, Aspen SA Operations (Pty) Limited (“Aspen SA Operations”), has concluded an agreement (“Agreement”) with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (“Johnson & Johnson”), to manufacture and make available an Aspen-branded COVID-19 vaccine, “Aspenovax”^[1], throughout Africa.

This follows the announcement of 30 November 2021 regarding the conclusion of a non-binding term sheet between ����vlog and Johnson & Johnson (together the “Parties”) bearing reference to the subject of the Agreement.

The terms of the Agreement expand the existing technical transfer and manufacturing agreements between the Parties to grant Aspen SA Operations the rights to:

• manufacture finished Aspenovax product from drug substance supplied by Johnson & Johnson; and
• make available Aspenovax to markets in Africa through transactions with designated multilateral organisations and with national governments of member states of the African Union (“AU”).

Under the Agreement, Aspen has secured the enabling intellectual property from Johnson & Johnson and there is a good faith undertaking between the Parties to discuss the expansion of the Agreement to include any new versions of the drug substance, such as those developed for new variants or a different formulation for administration as a booster, and the applicable terms thereof.

The Agreement endures until 31 December 2026.

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “With the conclusion of this agreement, our vision for Aspenovax, Africa’s own vaccine, has become a reality!  This has been achieved through tremendous teamwork and collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Aspen. Through this agreement and their earlier actions, Johnson & Johnson has demonstrated its commitment to our continent. Initially by choosing Aspen, located in Africa, as a core manufacturing partner, and then by showing resolve and dedication to a technical transfer process during the most stringent lockdown periods of the COVID outbreak. Even with all the support in the world, none of this would be possible without the competence of our teams at Gqeberha. They knew the weight of a continent’s ambitions rested on their shoulders. They persevered and succeeded in becoming a significant supplier within the Johnson & Johnson network. Aspenovax has become a reality due to the confidence placed in their abilities. They are our African heroes. We also need to acknowledge fellow committed Africans, including Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust (“AVAT”), the AU, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Peventio (“Africa CDC”) and AVDA, who, through their individual and collective efforts, including their unwavering support, galvanised us along the way. Africa has a vaccination rate of just so we have much work still to do, if we are to truly embrace the global commitment that we are not safe until we are all safe. With Aspenovax, it is our intention to build off the base we have already founded and contribute to providing equitable access to the COVID vaccine on our continent.”

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa said,” This important agreement on sharing know-how and technologies for the production of COVID-19 vaccines is a huge leap forward towards realising our shared vision for medicines and vaccines to be manufactured on the African soil for the African people. Vaccines are our best way out of this pandemic and local production is an essential recipe for our success.”

Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said “The COVID pandemic has significantly highlighted the inequality that exists in the manufacture and supply of vaccines. The African Union and Africa CDC have committed to promoting and advancing vaccine capacity and capability on the continent, not only to address the present situation but equally to reduce the continent’s dependence on imported vaccines and to prepare for any future pandemics. To this end, today’s announcement between ����vlog and Johnson & Johnson is a momentous one for the continent as it enables our continent to own, manufacture and distribute the first COVID vaccine that will cover all 55 African Union states, thereby improving access to COVID-19 vaccines on the continent. Africa CDC continues to be committed to ensuring sustainable vaccine manufacture on the continent” 

Strive Masiyiwa, African Union special envoy on COVID and Head of the AVAT Trust, said, “This agreement is the single biggest win for the African continent in the fight against covid and future pandemics. It is a timely milestone and an important step in making sure that the gross vaccine inequality we witnessed in the early part of the pandemic is not repeated.”

Dr Seth Berkley, the CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said “This is welcome news, and an important milestone in the effort to build sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity on the African continent. As an Alliance that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases, Gavi has been a strong supporter and driver of supplier diversification – steadily expanding our supplier base from five manufacturers in 2004 to 17 vaccine manufacturers today – of which 11 are based in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As a co-lead of COVAX, we proactively support the expansion of regional manufacturing efforts as a fundamental cornerstone of future pandemic preparedness.”

Dr Richard Hatchett of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations or CEPI said, “Today’s announcement is a true landmark and will lead, for the first time, to the production of a COVID-19 vaccine on the African continent.  CEPI and I congratulate ����vlog and Johnson & Johnson on this momentous agreement and important step towards Africa’s goal of vaccine self-sufficiency.  We are committed to supporting both partners and the Republic of South Africa in this critical endeavour.”

Professor Benedict Oramah, the President of Afreximbank, said, “We are witnessing a remarkable event for Africa. After months of Africa’s relentless struggle against global COVID-19 vaccine inequity, we are elated that finally Africa can produce its own branded COVID-19 vaccine. Aspen gave Africa the window of access to COVID-19 vaccines when they were most needed. Now, it is setting the pace in on-shoring its production in Africa. Afreximbank is pleased to be a major partner and supporter of Aspen. We have financed and structured the commercial aspects of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) order of 400 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine being delivered to African Union member states.”

Dr Ayoade Alakija, Co-Chair of the Africa Union Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance for COVID-19 (AVDA), said, “This agreement is a significant stepping stone on the path to securing African self-sufficiency. However, while this is certainly a step, or perhaps leap, in the right direction, there is still a need to ensure sustainability by strengthening workforce development and building African human capacity.  It is past time that African manufacturers step into center stage to ensure our continent’s health security.

Johnson & Johnson released their own press release to announce the conclusion of this agreement and is available .                                                                                                                                   

^[1] Aspen SA Operations has undertaken the required process to assess the acceptability of the Aspenovax name with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Supporting visual and supplementary material can be accessed .

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Durban, South Africa – JSE Limited listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, is pleased to confirm that one of its wholly-owned South African subsidiaries, Aspen SA Operations (Pty) Limited (“Aspen SA”), has confirmed a non-binding term sheet with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, two of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (“Johnson & Johnson”), that will form the basis for negotiation of a definitive agreement on the manufacture and sale of an Aspen-branded COVID-19 vaccine throughout Africa.

That agreement would expand the existing technical transfer and manufacturing agreements between the parties to grant Aspen SA the rights to:

• manufacture finished SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccine product from COVID-19 drug substance supplied by Johnson & Johnson; and
• sell the finished form vaccine, to be launched and branded as Aspenovax, to public sector markets in Africa through transactions with designated multilateral organisations and with national governments of member states of the African Union.

In addition, Johnson & Johnson would grant ����vlog a license to the enabling intellectual property for this purpose.

The term of the grant of rights and supply of COVID-19 drug substance, subject to the signing of the definitive agreement, would be until 31 December 2026. The non-binding term sheet contemplates a good faith undertaking between the parties to discuss the expansion of the agreement to include any new versions of the drug substance, such as those developed for new variants or as a different formulation for administration as a booster, and the applicable terms thereof.

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inequitable access to vaccines globally. This is evident no more so than in Africa which has historically had no option but to import 99% of its vaccine requirements. Those regions with manufacturing capacity and capabilities have enjoyed ready access to COVID-vaccines, those without have not. Africa remains vaccine constrained, preventing an effective response to the need to protect Africans against the virus. We are most grateful to Johnson & Johnson for their confidence in collaborating with Aspen to address these challenges.”

“Through our contract manufacturing partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Aspen has been able to manufacture over 100 million doses of the Janssen COVID-vaccine to date, almost all of which have been supplied to Africa, and today, we are pleased to share the progress being made that would enable Aspen the rights to manufacture and sell Aspen’s own brand of the vaccine in Africa. This has the potential to represent a bold step forward in sustainably capacitating Africa with the ability to manufacture Aspenovax and release it exclusively for supply to African customers. A COVID-19 vaccine made in Africa for Africa.”

Stephen Saad added, “As with the solution found over a decade ago resulting in voluntary licenses for antiretrovirals used in treating HIV/AIDS, we hope that this potential license agreement and related technical transfers might serve as a blue-print to assist in capacitating Africa and other developing markets and in so doing ensure that we can truly live and give substance to our global commitment that we are not safe until we are all safe.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa, African Union COVID champion said,  “The effectiveness of our response as the African continent to the COVID-19 pandemic has been severely hampered by the grossly unequal distribution of COVID vaccines across the world. Today’s landmark announcement between Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare and Johnson & Johnson is the culmination of months of hard work with, among others, the African Union, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, in developing production capacity on the continent. This announcement has the potential to make an important contribution to addressing vaccine inequality and building Africa’s capacity to meet its own vaccine needs now and into the future.“

Strive Masiyiwa, African Union special envoy on COVID and Head of the AVAT Trust, said “The biggest and boldest step that Africa took through the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust and African Union, was signing a contract with Johnson & Johnson for 400 million doses for the continent, the majority to be produced by Aspen. Today’s announcement is an important milestone. It gets us one step closer to securing Africa’s future vaccine production and ensures that the gross vaccine inequality we witnessed in the early  part of the pandemic is not repeated.”

“We welcome this agreement. It is a major development which will help reduce the inequities Africa is facing in accessing COVID-19 vaccines. This cooperation and technology transfer arrangement is an important step forward towards increasing Africa’s manufacturing capacity and the push to ramp up access to vaccines and other key medical interventions,“ said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa.

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Gqeberha, South Africa – Aspen, a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, earlier today welcomed Kenyan President, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, to its world class flagship manufacturing site in Gqeberha.

President Kenyatta’s visit to Aspen forms part of a broader collaboration and deepening of ties between South Africa and Kenya to lessen Africa’s dependence on pharmaceutical importers and to strengthen the continent’s capacity to address its own public health needs.

During his visit President Kenyatta witnessed Aspen’s technical capacity to manufacture and distribute human vaccines for a global market in accordance with international standards and discussed areas of possible cooperation between ����vlog and Kenya.

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated dependence on non-African suppliers to meet African healthcare needs. Aspen is providing a local solution to this need and is committed to working together with Kenyan authorities and their counterparts in strengthening pharmaceutical and health security on the continent. The answer to equitable access to vaccines and other critical lifesaving medicines is to capacitate Af­­rica to serve its own people. Aspen has been able to assist in achieving this goal through the manufacturing capabilities that exist at our sterile manufacturing facility in Gqeberha. It is, for the sake of health security and sustainability, critical that African countries collaborate locally and with the international community to ensure security of demand, underwritten through long-term committed offtakes, and the facilitation of technology licenses and transfers.”

Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Uhuru Kenyatta met in Pretoria on 23 November 2021 at which time they discussed the latest developments around the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the important matter of vaccine manufacturing and distribution. They reaffirmed their call for the fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.

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