ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has welcomed voluntary licensing agreements between global pharmaceutical company MSD and three African manufacturers to produce an investigational once-monthly oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) candidate, describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s health security and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
The agreements cover the investigational HIV prevention medicine MK-8527 and involve three pharmaceutical manufacturers: Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa, Quality Chemicals Industries Limited of Uganda and Universal Corporation Limited of Kenya.
According to Africa CDC, the partnership aligns with its Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda by advancing innovation across Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain while linking the continent’s growing clinical research ecosystem with regional manufacturing capabilities.
The continental health agency said the collaboration is expected to improve equitable access to high-quality and innovative health products while strengthening Africa’s capacity to develop and manufacture medicines locally.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the partnership involving Aspen Pharmacare, saying it reflects growing confidence in Africa’s pharmaceutical industry.
“This partnership demonstrates confidence not only in South Africa’s capabilities, but in Africa’s ability to manufacture the medicines of the future,” President Ramaphosa said.
Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the agreements represent more than a manufacturing initiative, describing them as a new model for partnerships that place Africa at the centre of scientific research, production and healthcare innovation.
“This is more than a manufacturing announcement. It demonstrates a new partnership model in which African countries help generate scientific evidence, prepare to manufacture innovative products and, ultimately, improve access for African patients,” Dr. Kaseya said.
Africa CDC reaffirmed its commitment to working with African Union Member States, regulatory authorities, manufacturers and development partners to support manufacturing readiness and facilitate rapid and equitable access to the product once licensed.
The agency added that it would leverage initiatives such as the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism to help expand access to licensed health products across the continent.
