Africa / Renewed Hope for Drug Discovery and Health Innovation
Kelly Chibale, founder of the H3D Centre at the University of Cape Town and chairman & CEO of the H3D Foundation, outlines the rationale behind the establishment of these institutions,…
Pharma Manufacturing in Africa / An Opportunity to Strengthen Global Pandemic Responses
Medicines for Africa’s Lenias Hwenda highlights the vast gaps in COVID-19 vaccine access globally, especially in Africa where just six percent of the population has been vaccinated. Hwenda argues that…
Africa / BioNTech to Build Continent's First mRNA Manufacturing Facility
Three months after the World Bank announced a EUR 600 million loan to South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare, the African continent has received more good news as it seeks to increase…
Africa / WHO Gives Go-Ahead for First Ever Malaria Vaccine
In a notable first, following successful pilot immunisation programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that the RTS,S malaria vaccine be rolled out across…
South Africa / Vaccines Made in Africa to Stay in Africa; Aspen Profits Up 21%; Adcock Ingram’s Down 3%
A roundup of the latest news from South African pharma, including Aspen’s impressive annual growth, Adcock Ingram’s full year profit drop, and Entos Pharma’s approval for Phase II clinical rials…
Africa / Continent's Biggest Pharma Company Gets $700 million for Vaccine Manufacturing Know-How
With Africa struggling to vaccinate its populations against COVID-19, the World Bank – along with government institutions from the USA, Germany, and France – has intervened to loan South African…
South Africa / Ramaphosa Slams Big Pharma; Aspen Gets $700M for Vaccine Know-How; Adcock Ingram Takes Big COVID Profit Hit
The latest from South African pharma, including President Ramaphosa’s blunt criticism of Big Pharma, Aspen’s reception of USD 700 million in international financial aid, Adcock Ingram’s disappointing results as fewer…
South Africa / Aspen Inks Deal to Manufacture J&J’s COVID-19 Vaccine
South African firm Aspen has inked a deal with Johnson & Johnson for the technical transfer and proposed commercial manufacture of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Ad26.COV2-S, boosting the company’s share…
Opinion / Malaria Prevention Cannot be Allowed to Stall During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As COVID-19 threatens to derail more than a decade’s worth of hard-won gains in the fight against malaria, Dr Benjamin Pretorius, managing director at ERADA Technology Alliance, warns that diversions…
COVID-19 / Cipla to Begin Manufacturing Remdesivir in South Africa
The South African affiliate of Indian pharma firm Cipla will begin manufacturing and distribution of remdesivir, a Covid-19 drug, in South Africa this month. The company’s priority is ensuring access…
News Roundup / South Africa Pharma June 2020
Below is a roundup of latest news from South Africa’s life sciences and healthcare industries, including a call to overhaul patent laws to allow better access to COVID-19 drugs, innovation…
Rare Diseases in South Africa: Bridging the Gap for Inclusive Healthcare
Kelly du Plessis is CEO & Founder of Rare Diseases South Africa, a registered NPO born out of necessity when her oldest child was diagnosed with Pompe disease at 11…