Sygnia founder Magda Wierzycka lifts lid on how her company bought into Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine

Loading player...
UPDATE: The headline has been changed to make it clear that neither Sygnia nor any other investors funding the development of the vaccine will profit from it during the pandemic. The return on investment will only come in future years - IF the vaccine works. We sincerely apologise for the previous headline creating the wrong impression. - Editor 
Sygnia founder and CEO Magda Wierzycka, is among a handful of SA business leaders who truly sees the world as her oyster. Well known for her forward thinking, she in 2015 bought shares in OSI, a company that transforms patents from Oxford University into viable businesses for 25% ownership. Within the OSI stable is Vaccitech, a company that has been developing a vaccine for MERS virus and has put them ahead of the Covid-19 vaccine race. Sygnia, the single biggest shareholder of OSI, is well placed to reap the rewards once the vaccine is made commercial. - Vanessa Marks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 May 2020 11AM English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

Helen Zille: “Johannesburg is on the brink of collapse” — Inside her plan to save SA’s biggest city

Helen Zille says Johannesburg’s crisis is far worse than she imagined, warning the city faces financial collapse, crumbling infrastructure, and coalition chaos. In this wide-ranging interview, she outlines her plan to restore water, electricity, roads, and investor confidence while exposing deep governance failures, corruption, and “last lap looting” inside the…
22 May 2AM 33 min

BN Daybreak - Fri 22 May 2026: Zille slams Joburg budget; Roodt on Crypto; Hoatson urges pushback; and Gupta delays

In today's BizNews Daybreak, we cover the latest business and political updates. On the international front, US-Iran tensions escalate over Strait of Hormuz tolls, while SpaceX scrubs its 12th Starship test mission. Locally, Helen Zille warns of Johannesburg’s collapsing municipal budget and failing infrastructure, economist Dawie Roodt discusses Treasury's futile…
21 May 11PM 15 min

Jacques Broodryk - AfriForum goes after the elusive Guptas…

AfriForum has asked the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, for an urgent update on the much delayed extradition of the Guptas who allegedly benefited from State Capture to the tune of between R50 and R70 billion. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson:…
21 May 5AM 9 min