Moderna to Establish its First mRNA Manufacturing Facility in Africa

Moderna announced on March 7, 2022 that it has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Republic of Kenya to utilize the country as the location of its first messenger RNA (mRNA) manufacturing facility in Africa. The Memorandum of Understanding was achieved with the assistance of the US Government.

The facility will be used for manufacturing drug substances and is expected to expand to include fill/finish and packaging capabilities. Moderna is investing up to $500 million in the new facility, focusing on manufacturing drugs for the continent of Africa. The company’s goal is to produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines per year, with plans to fill doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Africa as early as 2023.

"Battling the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years has provided a reminder of the work that must be done to ensure global health equity. Moderna is committed to being a part of the solution and today, we announce another step in this journey—an investment in the Republic of Kenya to build a drug substance mRNA manufacturing facility capable of supplying up to 500 million doses for the African continent each year," said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a press release. "With our mRNA global public health vaccine program, including our vaccine programs against HIV and Nipah, and with this partnership with the Republic of Kenya, the African Union, and the US Government, we believe that this step will become one of many on a journey to ensure sustainable access to transformative mRNA innovation on the African continent and positively impact public health."

"We are pleased to partner with Moderna in the establishment of this mRNA manufacturing facility to help prepare the country and our sister states on the continent through the African Union to respond to future health crises and stave off the next pandemic," added His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya. "This partnership is a testament to the capabilities of our community and our commitment to technological innovation. Moderna's investment in Kenya will help advance equitable global vaccine access and is emblematic of the structural developments that will enable Africa to become an engine of sustainable global growth."

Source: Moderna