Chinese vaccine manufacturer agrees decade of partnership with Brazil

Chinese vaccine company Sinovac Biotech has signed two product development partnership (PDP) agreements with Brazil's health ministry, launching a 10-year collaboration worth more than $700 million.

As the first Chinese vaccine manufacturer to win a PDP project in Brazil, the company will work with local partners Tecpar Institute and Eurofarma to build a vaccine industry platform and strengthen the Latin American country's domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Over the next decade, Sinovac will supply around 60 million doses of varicella and rabies vaccines to Brazil, valued at more than $700 million. According to the company, this is the most lengthy and largest international contract secured to date by a Chinese vaccine manufacturer.

"Our mission is to help build strong public health systems that protect people," Meng Weining, Sinovac vice-president, said at Monday's signing ceremony at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo.

"Investing in vaccines is investing in disease prevention and saving lives. We are committed to bringing reliable technology and long-term cooperation to meet Brazil's national needs."