US pharmaceutical giant Moderna is looking to collaborate with Hong Kong scientists on vaccine development after setting up a local manufacturing branch, with a long-term goal to tap into the mainland Chinese market.
In an interview with the Post, Patrick Bergstedt, Moderna senior vice-president and head of emerging markets, said the Hong Kong subsidiary would focus on introducing the mRNA technology to the city, with plans to engage local professionals and other stakeholders.
“The most immediate opportunity is for us to do clinical research in Hong Kong … Because Hong Kong already has a very established network, excellent healthcare system, excellent academic system, excellent hospitals,” he said.
“In the short term, we want to look at how we can do clinical research for our respiratory vaccines, for latent viruses or some of our Moderna therapeutics.”
Unlike other vaccines that introduce a weakened or inactivated virus into the bodies, mRNA or messenger RNA jabs use a molecule that teaches human cells how to make a protein, which triggers an immune response in the body by producing antibodies.
Moderna also has Covid-19 vaccines but these are as yet not available for Hongkongers.
Bergstedt said he expected to introduce up to 48 clinical development initiatives in Hong Kong, as well as a programme called mRNA access that allowed local scientists to make use of the technology and develop vaccines for existing diseases.
