Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (Aspen), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, has announced a $30 million commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in support of its capabilities to manufacture life-saving vaccines to address both routine viruses and virulent outbreaks in Africa. 

The funding includes $15 million from each grantmaker in support of a 10-year agreement between Aspen and Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. to expand the supply and sourcing of affordable vaccines manufactured in Africa. Through the partnership with Serum Institute, Aspen will manufacture and distribute four routine vaccines in Africa—pneumococcal, rotavirus, polyvalent meningococcal, and hexavalent—with technology transfer activities beginning in early 2023. In addition, the commitment will bolster regional vaccine manufacturing capacity at Aspen for potential future outbreak response. 

“Expanding the availability of affordable, high-quality vaccines that meet the needs of local communities is one of the best ways to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable deaths,” said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman. 

“The urgent need to diversify vaccine manufacturing so every region can manage its own health security is one of the most significant learnings from the inequity of the COVID-19 pandemic response,” said CEPI chief executive Richard Hatchett. “CEPI is working with our partners at Africa CDC to support the expansion of vaccine manufacturing on the continent, and our collaboration with Aspen, the Gates Foundation, and Serum Institute will help to deliver a sustainable and resilient business model capable of both producing routine and outbreak vaccines in Africa, for Africa.” 

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