IN CONVERSATION WITH DR ANGELIQUE COETZEE

 The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
recently approved the start of Phase 1 clinical trials for a locally
manufactured oral cholera vaccine developed by Biovac, a Cape
Town–based biopharmaceutical company.
 The announcement was made by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron
Motsoaledi, who described the development as a “historic leap” for
African healthcare independence.
 Cholera remains a serious public health threat across Africa, with
outbreaks linked to poor sanitation, contaminated water, and climate-
related flooding.
 The global shortage of cholera vaccines has worsened in recent years,
forcing the World Health Organization (WHO) to ration available
doses — underscoring the need for local production.
 The vaccine will undergo trials at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit
(Wits PHRU) in Johannesburg, testing its safety and dosage.
 If successful, later trials will expand to Durban and East London,
comparing results with the internationally used Euvichol-Plus
vaccine.
 The project is expected to contribute to South Africa’s goal of
becoming a continental vaccine manufacturing hub, aligning with the

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African Union’s target of producing 60% of all vaccines locally by
2030.
 Full approval and rollout are anticipated by 2028–2029 if all trial
phases are successful.