Moderna Pledges To Never Enforce Patents, Will Build Vaccine Hub In Kenya

Moderna has announced it will “never enforce” its patents for its mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in 92 low- and middle-income countries under the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment.

According to Politico, the commitment ensures the countries under the agreement will be able to secure financing for vaccines, which have largely gone towards wealthier nations. 

“We are committed to defeating the pandemic across the globe, and we are fulfilling that through our pledge not to enforce our COVID-19 related patents in low- and middle-income countries,” said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. 

“We are dedicated to combatting COVID-19 globally and preparing for the next pandemic,” she added.

Alongside with this initiative, Moderna will also be partnering with the government of Kenya to build an mRNA manufacturing facility, in hopes of producing up to 500 million doses annually. 

Reuters reported that it plans to start production of the COVID-19 vaccine in Africa as early as next year. 

“We all know the challenges that Kenya and the entire continent of Africa went through in the earlier stages of this pandemic that resulted in Africa being left behind. Not because of want but because of lack, and Moderna has come to fill that space,” said the country’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta. 

With this new facility, the company plans to expand its vaccine programs to 15 diseases in total, so that researchers can make use of existing mRNA technology to create effective vaccines against those illnesses. 

[via Politico and Reuters, cover image via Scyther5 | Dreamstime.com]