Moderna Chairman: "No Sharing of Vaccine Manufacturing Methods... Independent Production Is Best"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Noubar Afeyan, chairman of Moderna, stated that there are no plans to share the manufacturing method of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine developed by the company and that they will continue to increase in-house production. He maintained the existing position that their own production capacity is already sufficient, despite requests from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pope Francis, among the international community.

On the 11th (local time), in an interview with the Associated Press, Afeyan said, "There will be no sharing of manufacturing methods to expand vaccine supply," adding, "The management concluded that the best way to increase global supply is to increase our own production." He continued, "In the next 6 to 9 months, the reliable and effective way to produce high-quality vaccines is for us to make the vaccines," emphasizing, "The demand to share manufacturing methods comes from the assumption that we do not have sufficient production capacity, but we know that we can do it."

He explained, "It took less than a year to produce 1 billion doses from zero vaccine production," and added, "We expect to produce up to 3 billion doses next year." However, Afeyan reiterated that "Moderna will continue to honor its promise made a year ago not to enforce patent rights during the pandemic."

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) had urged Moderna to share vaccine manufacturing methods to expand vaccine supply to developing countries. Pope Francis, who visited Afeyan earlier that day, reportedly requested him to share the vaccine manufacturing methods so that everyone can receive the vaccine.

Regarding international criticism that Moderna exports most vaccines only to wealthy countries while neglecting poor countries, Afeyan emphasized, "We are supplying a significant amount to poor countries through contracts initially made with the U.S. government," and added, "We are cooperating with several countries to help poor countries secure vaccines."

Earlier, on the 7th, Moderna announced plans to build a facility in Africa capable of producing hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses annually. Afeyan said, "We hope to select the final site soon," but added, "However, it will take several years to build and operate the factory."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.