LA Times owner offers $210million to create new Covid vaccines in South Africa
The IndependentThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A US billionaire has announced he will offer 3bn South African rand to South Africa, where he was born, to help create coronavirus vaccines. “Our goal and our commitment is to come back to South Africa and transfer this kind of technology,” Dr Soon-Shiong reportedly said at an international meeting on the equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Referring to South Africa, he said, “Not only do we have the science, we have the human capital and the capacity and the desire.” During the meeting, which was co-chaired by the director-general of the World Health Organisation, the biotech billionaire said that the transfer of technology was as important as waiving intellectual property rights to shots. Biovac, one of the two manufacturers producing vaccines in South Africa, said it would partner with Dr Soon-Shiong’s company ImmunityBio to help produce experimental coronavirus vaccines, which are currently undergoing clinical trials, The Times reported.