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Aspen concludes a collaboration agreement to manufacture and make available four Aspen-Branded vaccines for Africa

Published: 2022-08-31 13:50:24 ET
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ASPEN PHARMACARE HOLDINGS LIMITED
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration number: 1985/002935/06
JSE Share code: APN
ISIN: ZAE000066692
LEI: 635400ZYSN1IRD5QWQ94
and its subsidiaries (collectively “Aspen” or “the Group”)



ASPEN CONCLUDES A COLLABORATION AGREEMENT TO MANUFACTURE AND MAKE AVAILABLE FOUR
ASPEN-BRANDED VACCINES FOR AFRICA

Aspen is pleased to announce that one of its wholly owned South African subsidiaries, Aspen SA Operations
(Pty) Limited (“Aspen SA Operations”), has concluded a ten-year agreement (“the Agreement”) with Serum
Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (“the Serum Institute”), the world’s largest vaccine producer, for Aspen SA
Operations to manufacture, market and distribute four Aspen-branded routine vaccines in Africa, excluding
certain markets due to the Serum Institute having provided prior rights to third parties. The four vaccines
are Pneumococcal Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, Polyvalent Meningococcal Vaccine and Hexavalent Vaccine
(“the Products”).

The terms of the Agreement include a technical transfer and formulation fill and finish arrangement which
grants Aspen SA Operations the rights to:
 (i) manufacture the Products from bulk drug substance supplied by the Serum Institute; and
 (ii) make available the Products to markets in Africa by means of transactions with designated
      multilateral organisations, national governments of member states of the African Union (“AU”) and
      other public and private sector customers.

Under the Agreement, Aspen SA Operations has secured a license to the enabling know how from the
Serum Institute and there is a good faith undertaking between the Parties to discuss the expansion of the
Agreement to include new products or new versions of the Products.

In addition to the Agreement, Aspen also anticipates receiving grant funding from each of the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”) to support
African regional manufacturing capacity for an affordable supply of vaccines to, amongst others, African
countries and Gavi/UNICEF, as well as contributing to pandemic preparedness, through a share of Aspen’s
vaccine manufacturing capacity over a period of ten years.

Aspen remains committed to expand durable vaccine manufacturing on the African continent, and the
Group looks forward to not only opportunities to support African nations with their Expanded Programs on
Immunization (“EPI”) endeavours, but also to contributing to regional and global health security through
the provision of world-class and proven vaccine manufacturing capability. On 10 May 2022, the African
Union called for agencies responsible for bulk purchasing of vaccines to offtake at least 30% of all vaccines
produced by Africa for global consumption. In Africa, 99% of all vaccines administered are currently
imported. Enhancing access to medicines is at the forefront of Aspen’s ESG strategy.
Aspen’s manufacturing facility in Gqeberha has accreditation from stringent international regulatory
authorities and provides medicines and vaccines to improve the health and quality of life of patients to
both the domestic and international markets.

Durban
31 August 2022

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Investec Bank Limited