The signing ceremony took place right after the official state visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam with strong orientations on enhancing cooperation between the two countries within the framework of scientific cooperation and innovation in trade and investment.
According to the cooperation agreement, Sanofi will share its extensive knowledge and expertise in biotechnology with VNVC to facilitate the gradual production of essential vaccines at VNVC’s plant in Vietnam. This event is expected to not only increase easier access to vaccines for Vietnamese people but also contribute to ensuring a stable supply of vaccines, contributing to good health care for the people.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, also assessed that the cooperation discussion between VNVC and Sanofi is a continuation of the policy of raising the level of cooperation between Vietnam and France, specifically aiming at vaccine production cooperation between two large enterprises of the two countries. Medical cooperation between the two countries has always been focused on by senior leaders, experts and policy makers of both sides from the past to the present.
Present at the signing ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Minister of Health of Vietnam, Honorary President of the Vietnam - France Friendship and Cooperation Association, and vaccine expert, said that this is a memorable event in the field of vaccine production in Vietnam. This is the first time a Vietnamese private enterprise has signed a cooperation agreement on technology transfer with a world-leading corporation such as Sanofi to produce important vaccines right in Vietnam. This shows that Vietnam is striving to master advanced technology in vaccine production, not just depending on imported sources.
Mr. Burak Pekmezci, Country Director of Sanofi Vietnam, said that Sanofi is one of the world's leading vaccine manufacturers, with more than half a billion people worldwide trusting its products every year. In Vietnam alone, in 2023, Sanofi provided more than seven million doses of high-quality vaccines.
“With many years of experience in vaccine production, Sanofi wishes to share knowledge and contribute to the development of the healthcare industry as well as improve public health in Vietnam,” said Mr. Burak Pekmezci.
Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of VNVC Vaccination System, said that in the near future, VNVC will build a vaccine and biological product manufacturing plant with the world's leading modern technology according to EU GMP standards (good manufacturing practices according to European standards) in Long An province. VNVC focuses on cooperating first with Sanofi to produce a number of important vaccines and biological drugs, thereby proactively supplying them to Vietnam.
Mr. Ngo Chi Dung hopes that the cooperation between Vietnam's leading vaccination system and the world's leading pharmaceutical group Sanofi will help Vietnam improve its capacity to produce high-quality vaccines.
According to Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Vietnam has now produced a number of vaccines using quite simple technology, mainly serving the national vaccination program. Meanwhile, the need for vaccination for children and adults is increasing.
Over the past 8 years, VNVC has made efforts to negotiate and import large quantities of important vaccines and new-generation vaccines. However, this activity depends on manufacturers and transport units and requires many procedures, time and costs. Not to mention, many other important vaccines are currently being allocated to epidemic countries or priority markets.
Therefore, efforts to participate in the production chains of vaccine companies are an important strategy to proactively produce vaccines, limit vaccine shortages, and help Vietnam be proactive in epidemic prevention strategies.
“We really need to improve and master modern vaccine production technologies, according to new international standards, and strongly expand production capacity to quickly produce high-quality vaccines “made in Vietnam”, thereby meeting the increasing demand for vaccination of people in the new context,” Mr. Ngo Chi Dung affirmed.
As a comprehensive strategic partner with Sanofi and many leading pharmaceutical companies, since its establishment, VNVC has negotiated to import a large number of vaccines and, together with manufacturers, brought to Vietnam 14 new vaccines to implement vaccination, protecting the health of millions of children and adults. Currently, VNVC is implementing the injection of 10 types of Sanofi vaccines including: 6 in 1 Hexaxim, 5 in 1 Pentaxim, 4 in 1 Tetraxim, 3 in 1 diphtheria whooping cough tetanus Adacel, Japanese encephalitis Imojev, rabies Verorab, meningitis caused by meningococcus Menactra, hepatitis A Avaxim, quadrivalent influenza Vaxigrip Tetra, typhoid Typhim VI.
According to the plan, VNVC will negotiate to gradually participate in the production and receive technology transfer of some vaccines in this portfolio of Sanofi.
