BRIEF—BioNTech introduces first modular mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa

Germany’s BioNTech, the company that has developed Comirnaty, the world’s most successful COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with Pfizer, has taken a next step to improve vaccine supply in Africa.

The company has introduced its approach to establishing scalable vaccine production by developing and delivering turnkey mRNA manufacturing facilities based on a container solution.

At a high-level meeting at BioNTech’s new manufacturing facility in Marburg and at the invitation of kENUP Foundation, the company presented the container solution named “BioNTainer” to key partners.

The establishment of the first mRNA manufacturing facility by BioNTech in the African Union is expected to start in mid-2022.

The first BioNTainer is expected to arrive in Africa in the second half of 2022.

Manufacturing in the first BioNTainer is planned to commence approximately 12 months after the delivery of the modules to its final location in Africa.

BioNTech expects to ship BioNTainers to Rwanda, Senegal and potentially South Africa in close coordination with the respective country and the African Union.