VNVC and Sanofi Sign Vaccine Technology Transfer Agreement in Presence of Presidents Macron and Luong Cuong

Hanoi – May 26: In the presence of Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and French President Emmanuel Macron, Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) and French pharmaceutical corporation Sanofi exchanged a cooperation agreement on the transfer of Sanofi’s vaccine production technology to VNVC’s Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant in Vietnam.

The event was part of the official agenda during the French President’s state visit to Vietnam, following an invitation by President Luong Cuong. This visit holds special significance as the two countries recently elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024 during Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to France. The signing ceremony between VNVC and Sanofi underscores the mutual trust and efforts to advance collaboration in critical fields of the globalization era, particularly healthcare.

Speaking at the post-signing press conference, President Luong Cuong highlighted Vietnam and France’s longstanding cooperation in traditional sectors such as science, technology, healthcare, education, and other developmental areas under the new bilateral framework. Both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in strategic fields, including aerospace, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, pharmaceuticals, and technology transfer.

The agreement between VNVC and Sanofi - a leading French pharmaceutical group - demonstrates the concrete implementation of the two nations’ strategic partnership. It lays the foundation for bilateral healthcare cooperation, extending beyond trade and workforce training to include scientific research, high-tech vaccine production, and technology transfer. This collaboration is expected to bring long-term benefits to both countries’ populations in healthcare while providing a robust legal framework for future bilateral activities in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines.

This milestone also marks a significant step for Vietnam’s healthcare sector in expanding international cooperation in advanced science and technology. It strengthens national health security, enhances pandemic preparedness, and fosters breakthroughs in biomedicine, delivering tangible benefits to the public.

Under the agreement, VNVC and Sanofi will progressively implement technology transfers to produce key Sanofi vaccines widely used in Vietnam, such as the 6-in-1 pediatric vaccine, flu vaccines, and meningococcal vaccines for children and adults. Additionally, Sanofi will support VNVC in workforce training and quality management for vaccine research and production.

Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman and CEO of VNVC, emphasized the partnership’s significance, noting that amid favorable policies for private sector growth - especially in international science and technology cooperation - the collaboration with Sanofi, a global vaccine leader, is pivotal. It will accelerate VNVC’s and Vietnam’s vaccine industry’s capacity to produce world-class "Made in Vietnam" vaccines.

“Partnering with Sanofi, a century-old global pharmaceutical giant, allows Vietnam to access cutting-edge vaccine technology, enabling the domestic production of hundreds of millions of high-quality doses annually. Local production ensures stable supply, reduces costs, and supports national vaccination strategies - improving public health, lowering treatment burdens, and enhancing quality of life,” Mr. Dung stated.

As part of its strategic vision to contribute to Vietnam’s goal of vaccine self-reliance, VNVC will construct a modern 26,000 m² Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant in Long An province. With an initial investment of VND 2,000 billion, the VNVC factory is designed to meet the highest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union (EU), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Currently, Sanofi supplies tens of millions of high-quality vaccine doses to meet Vietnam’s vaccination needs, including vaccines such as Hexaxim (6-in-1), Tetraxim (4-in-1), Adacel (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis), Imojev (Japanese encephalitis), Verorab (rabies), Menactra (meningococcal), Avaxim (hepatitis A), Vaxigrip Tetra (quadrivalent influenza), and Typhim VI (typhoid). Most of these vaccines are safely administered at VNVC’s network of over 220 vaccination centers nationwide, with affordable pricing. Once these vaccines are produced at the VNVC factory, Vietnam will benefit from a stable supply and lower costs, expanding access to comprehensive vaccination and protecting the health of more children and adults.

OTHER ARTICLES