Ramaphosa to inaugurate Africa pharmaceuticals initiative

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Jan 19, 2022

In a statement, the South African Presidency said Ramaphosa would be joined by Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder of the multinational conglomerate NantWorks, LLC, in launching the NantSA vaccine manufacturing campus at Brackengate, Cape Town. “Through the synergistic efforts of members of The AAAH Coalition, self-reliance will be accelerated around…

APA-Cape Town (South Africa) President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday launch a vaccine manufacturing plant in Cape Town and an African coalition to promote domestic production of pharmaceuticals, the presidency announced on Tuesday.

“The President and Dr Soon-Shiong will also launch the Coalition to Accelerate Africa’s Access to Advanced Healthcare (The AAAH Coalition),” the statement said.

NantSA and The AAAH Coalition aim to accelerate domestic production of pharmaceuticals, biologics and vaccines that would reach patients across the African continent.

“Through the synergistic efforts of members of The AAAH Coalition, self-reliance will be accelerated around next-generation vaccines manufactured in South Africa for Africa, innovative therapeutics and pandemic preparedness.”

With the support of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, institutes for infectious disease and cancer centres of excellence would be established at universities of Cape Town and the Witwatersrand as well as the creation of the Chan Soon-Shiong Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at the University of Stellenbosch.

The launch of The AAAH Coalition and NantSA’s vaccine manufacturing campus follows the announcement made by Soon-Shiong in September 2021 of an ambitious initiative to build capacity for advanced health care in Africa.

JN/APA