Cairo:Egypt's GennVax and China's Minhai have signed an agreement to transfer the PCV-20 pneumococcal vaccine manufacturing technology to Egypt, as announced by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).

According to State Information Service Egypt, EDA Chairman Ali El-Ghamrawy attended the signing ceremony during his visit to Minhai's facilities in China. This visit included discussions on vaccine development and manufacturing cooperation.

The agreement is designed to localize the production of priority vaccines and enhance Egypt's manufacturing capabilities. The country has a national vaccine manufacturing strategy in place for 2024-2030.

During the visit, El-Ghamrawy explored Minhai's PCV-13 pneumococcal vaccine production line, gaining insight into the manufacturing processes and the equipment used. Discussions extended to technology transfer and exchanging technical expertise between the Egyptian and Chinese pharmaceutical sectors.

El-Ghamrawy emphasized the significance of expanding partnerships with specialized vaccine manufacturers to transfer knowledge and boost local production capabilities, thereby enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of Egypt's vaccine industry.

This focus on manufacturing partnerships aligns with Egypt's investment in new facilities, including a $220 million vaccine complex under construction in the Suez Canal Economic Zone since December 2025.

The talks with Minhai also included discussions on production capacity development, technical expertise enhancement, pharmaceutical supply security, and expanding cooperation with regional and international markets, as noted by the EDA.

Additionally, the European Investment Bank announced a £750,000 technical assistance package in June to support studies for VACSERA's planned £50 million vaccine facility. In September, the cabinet approved a draft presidential decree for the VACSERA cooperation agreement supporting these studies.

The EDA stated that the Minhai visit is part of its efforts to expand international partnerships, support technology transfer, and attract investment into Egypt's pharmaceutical industry. Egypt achieved WHO maturity level 3 for medicines and vaccine regulation in December 2024, reflecting the robustness of its regulatory system.