The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Bio Farma, the only local vaccine manufacturer in Indonesia, have entered a 10-year partnership to boost the rapid manufacturing of outbreak vaccines in the Southeast Asian country. The collaboration will help to bring cutting-edge mRNA and viral vector rapid response vaccine manufacturing technologies to Indonesia and the ASEAN region, and reserve manufacturing capacity to supply Global South countries during future outbreaks and pandemics.
Bio Farma becomes the latest member of a CEPI-backed network of vaccine manufacturers in Global South countries, aiming to substantially increase the world’s capacity and capability to produce vaccines against emerging outbreaks and pandemic threats in as little as 100 days. The company is a long-established manufacturer of a broad portfolio of vaccines. CEPI will provide initial funding of up to USD 15 million to diversify Bio Farma’s manufacturing capability, supporting the establishment of mRNA and viral vector rapid response technologies at Bio Farma’s facilities for the first time, which will fast-track the company’s ability to manufacture vaccines to combat new viral threats. CEPI’s investment will complement funding from the Government of Indonesia and Bio Farma’s participation in the WHO-led mRNA technology transfer program.
The partnership will support Bio Farma in establishing a bioprocess laboratory, which will be used to develop and test the new mRNA and viral vector technologies. It will also establish Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-standard facilities to produce batches of vaccines for use in clinical trials up to Phase II, as well as GMP-standard capacity to manufacture larger quantities of vaccine for use in Phase III trials and commercial supply.
(Source: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations – CEPI)