The institute stood out a century ago with the manufacture of the vaccine against yellow fever in Dakar, Senegal. Today, the research center is launching into the manufacture of other vaccines: against Covid-19, but also against the childhood illness of measles and rubella and is pleading for greater vaccine autonomy for the continent.
From our correspondent in Dakar,
Badge and secure access, welcome to the Institut Pasteur’s measles and rubella vaccine development platform. In the glass space are two bioreactors, one no bigger than a food processor with pipettes inside. Neima Remba, coordinates the manufacturing of the vaccine: “ Once we have enough cells, we infect and this infection allows the cells to produce the attenuated virus. »
Attenuated virus which then becomes the vaccine.1.8 million doses can be produced in this machine in six hours. And for the first time, the vaccine against measles and rubella will be entirely manufactured in Senegal. “ It’s not just the vaccine itself, but also the people involved. Everything is also done locally ”, celebrated Naima Remba.
The fifty researchers who are developing the antidote against measles all come from the continent. But trials are also underway to better adapt this vaccine to African constraints, as explained by Dr Marie-Angélique Sene, head of the vaccine development center at the Pasteur Institute. “ It is sometimes something quite simple, like using powdered reagents which can be transported and do not need this cold chain and which can be reconstituted on site ”, she said.
Promote cooperation
For the moment, Dakar is not there yet. The first doses manufactured by the Pasteur Institute will be available at the beginning of 2027. Because although the manufacture of the vaccine has started, clinical tests still need to be carried out. But for Dr Marie-Angélique Sene, there is an urgent need to manufacture vaccines on the continent. “ Apart from the covid vaccine, there are many vaccines that are difficult to access, including measles-rubella. It is mainly produced in India and we have had quite a few epidemics in different countries, they have killed tens of thousands of children ”, she said.
The Pasteur Institute therefore also intends to manufacture message-RNA type vaccines against Covid-19 and is working to create a vaccine to fight Rift Valley fever, a specifically African disease. Amadou Sall, virologist and director of the Pasteur Institute welcomes this development: “ A little over 100 years ago, yellow fever was found here, for me, that’s successful cooperation. »
To date, 5 to 8 million doses of yellow fever vaccines are produced each year by the Pasteur Institute. They are expected to increase sixfold in the coming years. Manufacturing on the African continent which should also help fight against distrust and growing hostility towards vaccines.
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