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2022 | January / February 2022

Local drug manufacturing in Africa: lessons learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

by cyb2025
F. M. Akwi, P. Watts
Africa
APIs
COVID-19
Local drug manufacture
Pharma Supply Chain
pharmaceuticals

FAITH M. AKWI, PAUL WATTS
Nelson Mandela University, University Way, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Economic, social and political stresses have been witnessed all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, drug shortages and inaccessibility is one of the many results of disruption of supply chains due to shutdown of manufacturing activity in China, as well as export restrictions and bans by other countries. Herein, a brief synopsis of the knock-on effect and pre- and post COVID-19 roadmaps and measures undertaken towards achieving local drug manufacture in Africa is provided.

INTRODUCTION
At the end of 2019, the world experienced the Coronavirus pandemic that was declared a global public health emergency of concern by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020 (1). Since then, more than 87 million confirmed cases and 1.9 million deaths by early January 2021 have been recorded globally and in reality, the numbers are even higher (2).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Faith Akwi is a post-doctoral research fellow at Nelson Mandela University, focussed on developing continuous flow processes for the synthesis of APIs. She is currently involved in developing continuous flow processes for RAF kinase inhibitors, Sorafenib and Regorafenib, anti-cancers drugs used for the treatment of hepatocellular, renal cell carcinoma and thyroid cancer.

Prof Paul Watts holds the position of ‘SARChI Research Chair in Microfluidic Bio/Chemical Processing’. Prof Watts has published over 120 highly cited papers in peer reviewed journals, in addition to other publications and holds a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in recognition of his achievements. Within South Africa, he is passionate about exploiting science and innovation to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

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