Singapore to support mRNA flu vaccine pilot to strengthen pandemic preparedness

Singapore aims to bolster its pandemic preparedness by supporting an mRNA influenza vaccine pilot, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on September 23rd during a UN General Assembly side event. Ong highlighted the pilot's importance as a peacetime necessity, as it will help the nation build adaptable vaccine capabilities. Hilleman Laboratories, a vaccine research organization, recently opened a US$20 million manufacturing facility in Singapore to facilitate the process.

Singapore is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi, GSK, Moderna, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, which possess diverse vaccine platforms and manufacturing expertise. In a crisis, other countries might produce the most effective vaccine, but Singapore aims to ensure that its production facilities remain ready and operational.

The country is also adapting manufacturing know-how from MSD's Zaire Ebola virus vaccine, ERVEBO, to expedite the development of a Bundibugyo vaccine candidate. Hilleman's production capacity could yield a drug substance equivalent to 50 to 60 million doses or 12 million doses of drug product annually. If necessary, Hilleman could transfer technology to a larger-scale regional manufacturer.

Ong emphasized that preparedness, such as warm facilities, trusted partners, and existing science, can significantly reduce the time required to respond to a disease threat like Disease X.