Geneva Health Files

Geneva Health Files

"The biggest tech transfer program in the history of all medical technology": Petro Terblanche, CEO, Afrigen Biologics And Vaccines on the mRNA Tech Transfer Programme [INTERVIEW]

Newsletter Edition #316 [The Files In-Depth]

Priti Patnaik's avatar
Priti Patnaik
Nov 24, 2025
∙ Paid

Hi,

Local manufacturing became the urgent new ambition in the post-pandemic years, following the inequities witnessed during COVID-19. And yet, in reality, many policy puzzles and structural factors continue to constrain this aspiration.

In today’s edition, we bring you an exclusive, comprehensive interview with Petro Terblanche, CEO, Afrigen Biologics And Vaccines, who describes being a part of the journey of the mRNA tech transfer programme. The WHO-MPP project is emblematic of such efforts to decentralize production.

To learn more on this topic, access our new quarterly report on the lessons and challenges in mRNA production published last week. Note that this is a part of our new offering for our core supporters. Check out subscription offers and upgrades here. Write to us if you want to chat about this.

Support public interest global health journalism, become a paying subscriber. Tracking global health policy-making in Geneva is tough and expensive. Help us raise important questions, and in keeping an ear to the ground. Readers paying for our work makes this possible.

Gratitude to our subscribers who help us contribute to greater accountability in global health.

More soon!

Best,

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com or Follow us on Twitter: @filesgeneva

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. THE GENEVA HEALTH FILES INTERVIEW:

“The biggest tech transfer program in the history of all medical technology”: Petro Terblanche, CEO, Afrigen Biologics And Vaccines on the mRNA Tech Transfer Programme


By Priti Patnaik

Bianca Carvalho contributed to the production of this interview.


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