Rwanda to set up pharmaceutical body

Rwanda has a deal to set up a pharmaceutical body, funded by the African Development Bank, to support the region in the making of vaccines, drugs and patent applications.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation is part of the bank's commitment to spend at least 352.95 billion $3 billion over the next 10 years to support the industry under its Vision 2030 Pharmaceutical Action Plan.

Intellectual property protection and patents on technologies and trade secrets has hindered the growth of pharmaceutical products in developing countries, according to the bank.

The Bank said that no institution exists in Africa to support the practical implementation of Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights on non-exclusive or exclusive licensing of proprietary technologies, know-how and processes.

In the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic, some African countries including South Africa had called for a waiver of patent rights on medical products and vaccines to ensure accessibility.

Akinwumi Adesina, group president at African Development Bank said that the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation is a practical solution and will help to tilt access to proprietary technologies, knowledge, know-how and processes in favor of Africa.

The foundation will benefit the East African region by promoting bilateral trade, especially since Rwanda has been an importer of Kenya medical supplies.

According to the bank, 35 companies signed a licence with America s Merck, a multinational pharmaceutical company, to produce Nirmatrelvir, a Covid 19 drug, and none of them was African.

The foundation hopes to bridge the gap between companies worldwide by acting as a broker for the interests of the African pharmaceutical sector to access intellectual property-protected technologies and waive patent barriers.

The foundation hopes to strengthen regional pharmaceutical and vaccine innovation in Africa.