Dei BioPharma Founder Dr. Matthias Magoola has revealed that the ambitious Ugandan based biotech firm, will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, among its array of pharmaceutical products.
Speaking during to a high-level delegation from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday September 19, Dr. Magoola, who is leading Dei BioPharma to develop a manufacturing facility with atleast 26 different units, says the biotech firm will boost Africa's quest for self sufficiency.
The team from CDC Africa carried out an inspection and tour of the Dei BioPharma Drugs and Vaccines Manufacturing Facility Campus, at Matugga, near Kampala, Uganda and later discussed potential partnerships.
The visit came as the Ugandan firm gains global attention for its recent breakthroughs in cancer research and vaccine development.
The delegation, coordinated by the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat, under the Office of the President, also included officials from the Ministry of Health and the National Drug Authority (NDA).
In his presentation, Dr. Magoola highlighted the vision for the biotech firm, which is developing Africa's biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
"We are the first African company to venture into API manufacturing," Dr. Magoola said.
As a key pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Uganda, Dr. Magoola says Dei BioPharma’s commitment is to revolutionise the pharma sector by integrating indigenous knowledge, cutting-edge science, and industrial innovation.
The firm has established advanced manufacturing capabilities for a wide range of products—from cassava starch, sucrose, and fructose, to monoclonal antibodies such as bevacizumab and rituximab, and vaccines for hepatitis B, C, and tetanus.
"We are also producing in-vitro diagnostic kits for diseases like malaria and tetanus, alongside essential generic medicines including Metronidazole, Doxycycline, Metformin, and Paracetamol," said Dr. Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu, the Executive Manager in charge of Business Development at Dei BioPharma.
On the agenda of the interactions, included discussions on future collaborations to bolster Africa's health security, particularly in vaccine and drug manufacturing.
Dr. Mosoka Fallah, Director, Science and Innovation at Africa CDC, led the visitors that included scientists from all over African continent including Ethiopia, Zambia, DR Congo, Ghana, Zambia, Madagascar among others.
Speaking after Dr. Magoola's presentation, Dr Abebe Genetu Bayih, Acting Coordinator of the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), and also an official in the Africa CDC described Uganda as a pioneer in the push for African self-sufficiency.
He revealed that Africa CDC had finalised the creation of a continental procurement mechanism designed to ensure predictable demand for locally produced medicines.
Dr Bayih recalled that his role at PAVM was created in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the African Union tasked Africa CDC to coordinate vaccine manufacturing across the continent.
“In those early days, Uganda became the first country to officially write to us, with a letter signed by His Excellency the President, committing to local vaccine manufacturing,” he said. “That commitment has now become a reality here at Mattuga.”
He admitted that he regretted not visiting earlier to deepen collaboration with Uganda but stressed that Africa CDC was now fully invested in ensuring that the facility thrives.
“We are not only providing political support and coordination, but above all, we are providing the market for your products,” Dr Bayih assured.
Central to Africa CDC’s new strategy is the African Procurement Mechanism, which seeks to pool demand from all 55 African Union member states – representing 1.4 billion people.
The initiative aims to prevent a repeat of the COVID-19 era, when African countries were unable to access vaccines and essential medicines, even when they had the money to pay.
On financing, he announced that over US$2 billion had been pledged by the African Development Bank and partner institutions to fund pharmaceutical ventures on the continent. In addition, US$1.2 billion from Gavi has been secured to directly support African manufacturers who achieve WHO pre-qualification.
“I am confident Dei BioPharma will be among the beneficiaries of this Gavi facility,” Dr Bayih said.
Commissioned in July 2021 by President Museveni and then Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, the state-of-the-art complex sits on more than 250 acres and houses about 30 manufacturing units.
“We are the first African company to venture into active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, with capacity to produce more than one billion doses of mRNA vaccines annually,” Dr. Magoola said.
The facility is equipped to produce a wide range of medicines, including treatments for malaria, HIV, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases. It also plans to roll out nine different vaccines once regulatory approvals are finalised.
“Our technology is guided by the most stringent global Good Manufacturing Practices, including US FDA, EMA, and WHO standards,” Magoola added.