[ACCI-CAVIE] The NantSA vaccine production hub in the Brackengate Business Park will produce Covid-19 and cancer vaccines, along with next-generation cell-based immunotherapies.

A state-of-the-art vaccine production campus has opened its doors in Cape Town after being unveiled by South African-born biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

Dr. Soon-Shiong launched the NantSA vaccine manufacturing campus alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday morning at the Brackengate Business Park in Brackenfell.

In September 2021, Dr. Soon-Shiong, the founder of the multinational conglomerate NantWorks LLC, announced an ambitious initiative to build capacity for advanced health care in Africa.

The US-based biotech billionaire has long committed to creating more health equity in his country of birth.

Ramaphosa says the NantSA vaccine plant will strengthen South Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities to produce the Covid-19 and other vaccines.

He’s called for more partnerships that invest in the African continent’s scientific capability, expertise, and skills.

Africa stands ready to enter a new age of medical science. It stands ready to take responsibility for the health of its people, to understand better the diseases that afflict them, and to develop the means to manage these diseases.Africa stands ready to contribute to global scientific enquiry and knowledge, and to develop treatments, diagnostics and vaccines that will serve humanity.

by Qama Qukula