A South African Company Addresses Vaccine Supply Inequity, Despite Canada’s Lack of Support

Matthew Herder; E. Richard Gold

A South African Company Addresses Vaccine Supply Inequity, Despite Canada’s Lack of Support

Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine, McGill University

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Since late 2020, the inequitable access across the globe to COVID-19 vaccines has been a glaring problem . But a remarkable achievement earlier this month offers hope that the supply of vaccines to developing countries will improve: Afrigen Biologics, a South African based company, produced its own version of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This was achieved with no support from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, the manufacturer of the other mRNA vaccine.

What many don’t realize is that two Canadian companies control a key component of the mRNA vaccines. Busy fighting over their lucrative patent rights , there is no sign they shared their technology with Afrigen either.

Original language	Canadian English
Publication status	Published - Jan. 1 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

COVID-19
Coronavirus
South Africa
Moderna
COVID-19 Vaccines
Public Health
Knowledge Sharing
Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
Health Care Access
Vaccination Access
Supply Inequity
Canada
Global South

Disciplines

Food and Drug Law
Health Law and Policy
International Humanitarian Law
International Law
Law
Law and Society

Access to Document

https://theconversation.com/a-south-african-company-addresses-vaccine-supply-inequity-despite-canadas-lack-of-support-177416

Cite this

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abstract = " Since late 2020, the inequitable access across the globe to COVID-19 vaccines has been a glaring problem . But a remarkable achievement earlier this month offers hope that the supply of vaccines to developing countries will improve: Afrigen Biologics, a South African based company, produced its own version of Moderna{\textquoteright}s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This was achieved with no support from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, the manufacturer of the other mRNA vaccine. What many don{\textquoteright}t realize is that two Canadian companies control a key component of the mRNA vaccines. Busy fighting over their lucrative patent rights , there is no sign they shared their technology with Afrigen either.",

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AU - Gold, E. Richard

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PY - 2022/1/1

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N2 - Since late 2020, the inequitable access across the globe to COVID-19 vaccines has been a glaring problem . But a remarkable achievement earlier this month offers hope that the supply of vaccines to developing countries will improve: Afrigen Biologics, a South African based company, produced its own version of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This was achieved with no support from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, the manufacturer of the other mRNA vaccine. What many don’t realize is that two Canadian companies control a key component of the mRNA vaccines. Busy fighting over their lucrative patent rights , there is no sign they shared their technology with Afrigen either.

AB - Since late 2020, the inequitable access across the globe to COVID-19 vaccines has been a glaring problem . But a remarkable achievement earlier this month offers hope that the supply of vaccines to developing countries will improve: Afrigen Biologics, a South African based company, produced its own version of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This was achieved with no support from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, the manufacturer of the other mRNA vaccine. What many don’t realize is that two Canadian companies control a key component of the mRNA vaccines. Busy fighting over their lucrative patent rights , there is no sign they shared their technology with Afrigen either.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Coronavirus

KW - South Africa

KW - Moderna

KW - COVID-19 Vaccines

KW - Public Health

KW - Knowledge Sharing

KW - Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

KW - Health Care Access

KW - Vaccination Access

KW - Supply Inequity

KW - Canada

KW - Global South

UR - https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/scholarly_works/1129

UR - https://theconversation.com/a-south-african-company-addresses-vaccine-supply-inequity-despite-canadas-lack-of-support-177416

M3 - Other contribution

ER -

A South African Company Addresses Vaccine Supply Inequity, Despite Canada’s Lack of Support

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

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