The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new initiative in Geneva to accelerate the development of mRNA-based vaccines for human avian influenza (H5N1).
This new project focuses on making such vaccines accessible to manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO announced in its statement that the project, led by the Argentine company, Sinergium, will leverage the organisation’s expertise and the company’s mRNA technology transfer programme.
Originally launched in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company, MMB, in July 2021, this programme aims to build vaccine development capacities in countries with limited resources.
Once the clinical data package is complete, WHO plans to share the technology, materials, and expertise with additional manufacturing partners, facilitating the development of vaccine candidates against human avian influenza and bolstering pandemic preparedness efforts.
The organisation emphasised that avian influenza viruses pose a significant threat to public health due to their widespread presence among animals and their potential to cause future pandemics.
