The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of a new initiative led by Sinergium Biotech to accelerate the development and accessibility of human avian influenza (H5N1) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine candidates for manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The new initiative will leverage the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, jointly developed by WHO and Medicines Patent Pool in 2021, to build capacity in LMICs for the development and production of mRNA-based vaccines.
A partner in the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, the Argentinian manufacturer Sinergium has developed candidate H5N1 and intends to establish proof-of-concept in preclinical models.
Once concluded, the technology, materials and expertise will be shared with other manufacturing partners to aid in the acceleration of the development of H5N1 candidates while bolstering pandemic preparedness efforts.
H5N1 infections can cause mild-to-severe upper respiratory tract infections and can be fatal, posing a significant public health risk due to their widespread circulation in animals.
From 2003 to 2024, a total of 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported globally from 23 countries, putting the case fatality rate at 52%, while highlighting its potential to cause a future pandemic, according to WHO.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, commented: “This initiative exemplifies why WHO established the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme – to foster greater research, development and production in LMICs so that when the next pandemic arrives, the world will be better prepared to mount a more effective and more equitable response.”
In the past year, WHO has announced the launch of other initiatives in an effort to enhance pandemic preparedness worldwide. This includes the ‘Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats Initiative’ initiative in April 2023 to help countries better prepare for future pandemics, as well as 16 ‘Vaccine Value Profiles’ to prioritise key endemic pathogens to accelerate vaccine development, particularly in LMICs, in November 2023.
Most recently, in May, GSK announced that it will become the first founding partner of the Fleming Initiative, a new global network aimed at tackling antimicrobial resistance, which has been declared by WHO as one of the top ten threats to global public health.