South African company Afrigen Biologics has used the available sequence from Moderna's covid-19 mRNA vaccine to produce its own version of the vaccine, which by before the end of 2022 can be tested in humans.

"We didn't copy Moderna, we developed our own processes because Moderna didn't give us any technology," said Petro Terblanche, CEO of Afrigen.

In addition to being the first mRNA vaccine designed, developed and produced at laboratory scale on the African continent, Afrigen's vaccine may become the first to be manufactured based on a globally used vaccine without the assistance and approval of the manufacturer.

"If this project shows that Africa can adopt cutting-edge technology and produce cutting-edge products, this will dispel this idea that Africa can't do it and change the mindset worldwide ... this can be a game changer," said Charles Gore, MPP executive director.

The World Health Organization (WHO) last year chose a consortium, including Afrigen, for a pilot project to give poor and middle-income countries the "know-how" to make covid-19 vaccines, after the market leaders in mRNA covid vaccines, namely Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna refused a WHO request to share their technology and expertise.

The companies argued that they need to oversee any technology transfer because of the complexity of the manufacturing process.

Biovac, a partially state-owned South African vaccine producer, will be the first recipient of the center's technology. Afrigen has also agreed to help form companies in Argentina and Brazil.