Technology Transfer for Production of COVID-19 Vaccines in Latin America

Abstract

This chapter examines the production of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean (LA). The focus is on technology transfer for local production, i.e. production in LAC countries of the leading vaccines that were most used internationally. The review reveals a limited degree of local vaccine production during the pandemic, what might be regarded as an under-utilization of the region's pharmaceutical production capabilities. Through the analysis of the technology transfer initiatives, as well as the accompanying regulatory challenges, the chapter sheds light on the intense challenges involved with pandemic vaccine production in the Global South.

The chapter first presents an overview of the universe of local production arrangements for which information is publicly available. The next section then drills down to the cases where technology transfer advanced the furthest, examining the production experiences of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Brazil and jointly in Argentina and Mexico. Both partnerships illustrate the challenges of building and sustaining supply chains during the pandemic. The Brazil case highlights key steps that enabled relative success, including rapid and pro-active efforts by public sector institutions. The Argentina-Mexico case, which appeared to be both more ambitious and better positioned from the start but did not yield the same outcome, sheds essential light on the extent of the technological and regulatory obstacles that may confound such projects. The following section takes a step back and provides a broader view of the experience of technology transfer during the pandemic, considering the role of intellectual property rights and pointing to the collaborative dimensions of production partnerships. The final section synthesizes the main findings and points to avenues for future research.

Keywords: COVID-19, vaccines, technology transfer, pharmaceutical production