Once it became clear that wealthy nations would help themselves to coronavirus vaccines long before poorer nations had access, researchers across Africa, Asia and South America banded together with the World Health Organization. Never again, they vowed, would they allow themselves to be at the mercy of the Western world while a deadly pathogen tore through their regions. They launched a sprawling initiative that included companies and institutes in 15 middle-income countries in the global south, the half of the world longing for coronavirus vaccines in 2021 even as wealthy countries stockpiled doses. The groups aimed to develop their ability to produce messenger RNA vaccines. … Called the mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub, a mouthful meant to reflect their intention to share mRNA technology, the initiative is distinct from the typical, competitive mode of drug development in which companies keep discoveries secret. … The United States has not funded the initiative thus far. The bulk of the program’s funds are from Canada, France and the European Commission. Barney Graham, a virologist who led development of mRNA vaccines at the National Institutes of Health, is an adviser to the hub initiative because he believes it could be crucial to curbing the next pandemic. If the hubs can churn out mRNA vaccines rapidly when novel pathogens emerge, they might prevent localized outbreaks from spreading around the world.
Washington Post