President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the guest of honour today, Thursday, 23 September 2021, at an announcement by Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder of the multinational conglomerate, NantWorks LLC, of an ambitious initiative to build capacity for advanced healthcare in Africa.

The initiative will entail collaboration between NantAfrica, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), and the universities of Cape Town, Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch and KwaZulu-Natal.

NantWorks is a multinational, California-based conglomerate that is leading the digital revolution in healthcare, technology and media through the harnessing of science, digital infrastructure, supercomputing and communication.

NantWorks LLC has signed a collaboration agreement with the CSIR and the SAMRC that will initiate the transfer of biologic manufacturing technology for COVID-19 and cancer vaccines and next-generation cell-based immunotherapies.

This will enable the rapid clinical development of next generation vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer at centres of excellence across the country.

Dr Soon-Shiong will make the announcement in a virtual engagement with media that will be streamed live on all PresidencyZA digital platforms at 17h00 South African time. A limited number of South African and United States media have been invited to participate.

Source: Government of South Africa