A new African European collaboration aims to develop the first ever digital-to-biologics, end-to-end mRNA production platform, focusing on nucleic acid-based vaccines and therapeutics, including mRNA and saRNA vaccines. 

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Africa’s EVA Pharma, France’s DNA Script, and Belgium’s Quantoom Biosciences during the 2nd second Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum for African Union Member States in Cairo.  

The platform, taking place in Egypt, will integrate DNA Script’s enzymatic DNA synthesis technologies with Quantoom’s Ntensify mRNA synthesis and Ncapsulate formulation technologies, combined with EVA Pharma’s vaccine development, GMP sterile manufacturing expertise and commercialisation capabilities.  

The collaboration addresses critical market needs, including rapid responses to infectious diseases outbreaks and routine immunisations.  

The shared vision is to produce 100 million doses of RNA-based vaccines annually, fostering localisation and strengthening regional autonomy in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.  

The collaboration will focus on developing a next generation, saRNA-based vaccines, targeting both human and animal health under the One Health approach to create a stronger defence against zoonotic diseases from the source. 

This initiative will contribute to achieve Africa CDC’s target of 60% local vaccine production by 2040 and Egypt’s ambitious goal to manufacture 385 million vaccine doses annually by 2030, establishing itself as a global leader in vaccine production. 

Statements from the partners

“This moment will reshape African and global health security as we know it,” said Dr Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma. “Our cross-continental collaboration will empower patients with next-generation, scalable, and versatile solutions that transform what once took years into a process achievable in weeks. This is not tomorrow’s promise, it is today’s reality: with an operational biologics manufacturing site producing 100 million vials and 1.5 billion doses of animal health vaccine already commercialised, we have the infrastructure to streamline vaccine production using groundbreaking mRNA technology and ensuring unparalleled safety.” 

Marc Montserrat, CEO of DNA Script, said: “Our collaboration with EVA Pharma and Univercells-Quantoom to implement our proprietary enzymatic DNA synthesis technology directly supports the mission to accelerate vaccine development and delivery worldwide, and more broadly aligns with our vision to make biology programmable. By dramatically reducing the time needed to produce DNA templates, and by enabling the synthesis of longer and more complex DNA sequences, we’re helping ensure that innovative vaccine technology can reach those at highest risk during emerging epidemics more rapidly than ever before.” 

José Castillo, CEO of Quantoom Biosciences, added: “This collaboration showcases the transformative power of combining complementary expertise across borders. Together, we are not only advancing RNA technologies but also addressing global health inequities by making life-saving vaccines and therapeutics accessible to underserved populations.”

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW