A tripartite protocol of cooperation was signed today between the Supreme Council of University Hospitals, the Agricultural Research Centre and EVA Pharma, one of the leading branded generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in Egypt and the Middle East, to complete studies to produce the new Egyptian vaccine against coronavirus, Egyvax. The studies and research performed under the protocol should ensure the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Attending the signing ceremony were Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Acting Minister of Health; al-Sayed al-Quseir, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; and EVA Pharma CEO, Riad Armanious.
Dr Abdel-Ghaffar said that research to produce the Egyptian vaccine is upon the directives of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to do everything possible measures to protect Egyptians against COVID-19. The government, he said, is already making available to Egyptians huge doses of various vaccines produced internationally.
Dr Abdel-Ghaffar said that cooperation between the research centres of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Agriculture, and EVA Pharma, brings together the capabilities of Egyptian research entities and the manufacturing sector, highlighting the capacity of Egyptian scientific entities to enhance Egyptian industry.
The new Egyptian vaccine, Dr Abdel-Ghaffar explained, will cater to the local market, with the possibility of exporting the surplus.
For his part, Mr Quseir pointed out to the research capacity of Egyptian researchers working in the laboratories of the ministries of higher education and of agriculture in isolating and inhibiting viruses. He said that cooperation with EVA Pharma will involve research, development, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and promotion of pharmaceutical products. Mr Quseir applauded EVA Pharma’s expertise in producing and packaging drugs, saying that would benefit the new Egyptian vaccine.
Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals said that production of the new vaccine will start once clinical trials prove successful.
Dr Armanious explained that the Ministries of Higher Education and Agriculture will work on the preliminary step before producing the vaccine. This will involve preparing and producing the “laboratory inhibited viral antigen”, which is a major step in the manufacturing of the Egyptian vaccine. This will be carried out inside the EVA Pharma industrial complex, Dr Armanious explained, confirming that the requirements of the Egyptian Medicine Authority, the WHO and the FDA will be observed during all phases.
Watani International
13 December 2021