CASSS and the CASSS Foundation for Science have announced plans for the inaugural CMC Strategy Forum Africa, a two-day, in-person scientific meeting focused on strengthening regulatory capacity for vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing across Africa. The Forum is planned for 2027 in South Africa and will be developed with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and other regulatory agencies and industry representatives within Africa.
The new Forum will create a dedicated setting for regulators, industry leaders, and academic experts to exchange knowledge, examine shared chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) challenges, and identify practical approaches that support strong regulatory systems and sustainable manufacturing capacity across the continent.
Funding support from Gates Foundation, through the CASSS Foundation for Science, will help CASSS expand access to scientific exchange and training for African participants. The Forum will be free for local African attendees. Additional program, participation, date, and venue details will be announced as planning progresses.
"CMC Strategy Forum Africa reflects CASSS's commitment to creating trusted spaces where scientific and regulatory experts can work through complex challenges together," said Mark Schenerman, President of CASSS Foundation for Science."By bringing this dialogue to Africa and developing the program with regional regulatory leaders, we hope to support practical knowledge exchange, lasting relationships, and solutions shaped by priorities of the African biopharmaceutical community."
"This Forum provides an important platform to strengthen collaboration among African regulatory authorities and the broader scientific community. By facilitating focused dialogue and knowledge exchange on Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), we can build regulatory capacity, promote greater convergence of regulatory approaches, and contribute to improving timely access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines and biopharmaceutical products across Africa,” said Ms Tammy Gopal, Chief Regulatory Officer at SAHPRA.
The scientific program will be shaped by a Scientific Organizing Committee and designed around the needs and perspectives of the region. Further information will be available at www.casss.org as it is confirmed.