• Biovac starts first oral cholera vaccine trial in 50 years amid Africa surge

• Africa accounts for 82% of global cholera cases; vaccine stockpiles strained

• New Cape Town lab backs AU goal to produce 60% of vaccines locally by 2040
  
  

South African biopharmaceutical company Biovac has begun clinical trials for an oral cholera vaccine, the first such trial in 50 years. Bloomberg reported that, according to CEO Morena Makhoana’s announcement on Tuesday, November 11, a successful trial could allow the vaccine to reach the market as early as 2028. The product would expand Biovac’s portfolio, which currently includes vaccines for tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and hepatitis B.

Although Biovac did not disclose specific details about the trial, the development represents a significant step in addressing cholera, a diarrheal disease for which Africa accounts for 82 percent of global cases and 93.5 percent of global deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. In its October update, the agency reported 297,394 cases across 23 African countries and 6,854 deaths since the start of 2025.

Cholera has resurged globally since 2021, putting severe pressure on international stockpiles of oral cholera vaccines and leaving several African countries unable to secure the doses they need. “Globally, only 15 to 18 million doses are available, while Africa alone needs 80 million,” Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said in February 2024. “Zambia bought 1.7 million doses but needs 3.2 million. Zimbabwe needs 3.2 million but obtained only 800,000. The DRC is in an even more difficult position, needing 5 million doses it cannot access.”

The start of clinical trials follows the inauguration of a new development laboratory by Biovac in Cape Town on Thursday, November 6. The facility can handle the full vaccine production chain, from early development through final formulation and manufacturing, and is equipped for advanced technologies including messenger RNA. This investment supports the African Union’s goal for 60 percent of vaccines used on the continent to be produced in Africa by 2040, up from the current 1 percent.

Espoir Olodo