Between September 24 and 26, Brazil hosted, for the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Meeting on mRNA R&D in the Americas. The meeting was held in the auditorium of the Vinicius Fonseca Administrative Center and was organized in collaboration with the regional partners of the mRNA Technology Transfer Program, Sinergium Biotech and BioManguinhos/Fiocruz.

This meeting is held locally by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) with the main stakeholders in mRNA research, development and production around the world. Africa and Asia have already hosted the initiative, which now brought together the main players in this technology in the Americas region.

The objective of the meeting was to advance the development of new mRNA-based products in order to sustain the regional manufacturing capacity that is being built. To this end, the meeting included a series of scientific and technical discussions for the development of mRNA vaccines against diseases of regional interest.

During the event, Bio-Manguinhos also presented the Institute's progress on its RNA platform, not only in the vaccine against covid-19, but also focusing on other targets, such as leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and cancer, the first in partnership with other Fiocruz units. The RNA production plant was also presented in a video by director Mauricio Zuma during the opening session.

Memorandum of understanding for future cooperation
The first day of meetings also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bio-Manguinhos and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). The document aims to expand research and production of a new generation of mRNA vaccines to combat endemic diseases and collaborate to better prepare for possible epidemics.

"This partnership is an even greater incentive for Bio-Manguinhos to continue developing its RNA platform, strengthening the immunobiological production chain in the Latin American region and contributing to equal access to vaccines for all low- and middle-income countries," said Zuma.

The MoU signed by Bio and MPP celebrates the Institute's participation in the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Program. Created in 2021, the program brings together partners from 15 low- and middle-income countries. Bio-Manguinhos and Sinergium (from Argentina) are the two representatives from Latin America.

Text: Thais Christ
Image: Ramon Vellasco