BioNTech, the German biotech company, has opened a new $150 million facility in Kigali, Rwanda, dedicated to manufacturing mRNA-based vaccines.
This project, financed entirely by BioNTech, spans 35,000 square metres and will employ at least 100 staff members at full capacity.
The facility, featuring innovative BioNTainers, aims to revolutionise pharmaceutical manufacturing by combining digital technology with standardised mRNA production.
The company plans to complete all buildings in Kigali by 2024 and initiate local training for specialised personnel. Test mRNA production is set to begin in 2025. The COO of BioNTech, Sierk Poetting, highlighted that BioNTainers ensure consistent global manufacturing processes while being adaptable to regional needs.
BioNTech’s production output in the Kigali facility will vary based on the mRNA product, with the potential to manufacture up to 50 million doses annually, similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The company also aims to address vaccine inequity in Africa, as emphasised by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who praised the democratisation of vaccine technology through BioNTech’s partnership with Africa.
BioNTech plans to conduct clinical trials in Africa for vaccines targeting malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV in 2024. These diseases cause over two million deaths annually in Africa, with a significant impact on child mortality. If successful, BioNTech intends to provide these vaccines to lower-income countries at a not-for-profit price.
During the inauguration, Ugur Sahin, BioNTech’s CEO, met with Senegal’s President Macky Sall to discuss potential research partnerships focusing on infectious diseases relevant to the African continent with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.
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