ASEAN Secretariat participated in the World Health Organization (WHO)/Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) messenger RiboNucleic Acid (mRNA) Technology Transfer Programme held in Singapore on 18-19 March 2023.
The programme was organsied by WHO and MPP with the aim to explore the feasibility of establishing research consortia to advance mRNA vaccine development up to proof of concept. The consortia will then allow Southeast Asia Region to be able to manufacture its own vaccines locally.
ASEAN Secretariat spoke in one of the panels and shared about the commitments of ASEAN members to promote biomedical R&D and showcased examples of the work carried out by ASEAN Subcommittee on Biotechnology particularly the ASEAN Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Traditional Medicines Innovation (ASEAN-NDI). Approximately 60 global players in pharmaceutical, immunology, research institutes, international organization, banks and philanthropists attended the programme.