German biotech firm BioNTech has achieved a significant milestone in its global health efforts by inaugurating the first BioNTainer at its manufacturing facility in Kigali, Rwanda, just one year after laying the foundation. This cutting-edge project, financed by BioNTech at approximately $150 million, spans 35,000 square meters and is poised to employ a minimum of 100 staff members upon reaching total operational capacity.
The facility, expected to be fully completed in 2024, will initiate local training programs for specialized personnel, with test mRNA production scheduled for process validation in 2025. According to Sierk Poetting, the COO of BioNTech, the BioNTainers represent a revolutionary approach to pharmaceutical manufacturing by integrating digital technology with standardized mRNA production. These containers are designed to offer consistent manufacturing processes that can be applied globally and customized to regional needs.
Poetting emphasized the commitment to regular updates, ensuring the facility remains one of the most advanced mRNA manufacturing sites globally. The production output of the Kigali factory will depend on the specific mRNA product being manufactured, its dosage, and assembly methods. For instance, BioNTech could produce up to 50 million doses annually for a product with an RNA process similar to that of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
BioNTech aims to conduct clinical trials in Africa for vaccine candidates targeting malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV in 2024. These diseases contribute to over two million deaths annually in Africa, significantly impacting child mortality. If successful and approved by regulatory authorities, BioNTech plans to make these vaccines available to lower-income countries at a not-for-profit price.
During the inauguration, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda acknowledged the historical challenge of vaccine inequity in Africa during the pandemic. He highlighted BioNTech’s partnership with Africa as a crucial step in democratizing vaccine technology, ensuring the continent’s readiness and resilience for future health challenges.
Ugur Sahin, co-founder and CEO of BioNTech, seized the opportunity to meet with President Macky Sall of Senegal in Kigali. Discussions concerned potentially establishing a research partnership between BioNTech and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, focusing on infectious diseases relevant to the African continent. The official inauguration of the BioNTech site in Kigali drew the attendance of African heads of state and government, representatives from the African Union and European Union, and leaders from WHO, Africa CDC, and CEPI.
