Bio Usawa Inc. is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on developing and manufacturing monoclonal antibodies in Africa. The company aims to address medical needs by producing affordable therapies in areas such as oncology, immunology, and ophthalmology, ensuring that no patient is left without essential treatments due to cost barriers.
Diabetic macular edema occurs when the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision becomes swollen due to fluid leakage from damaged or fragile blood vessels. It is estimated that 7â€"10% of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic macular edema, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.
Announcing the partnership, the company noted that while effective mAb biosimilars for diabetic macular edema are approved in high-income countries, their availability in African nations is extremely limited, despite the rise in diabetes cases reaching pandemic proportions.
The facility to be set up in Rwanda, the company said, will pave the way for local, end-to-end manufacturing of biosimilars that are affordable, high-quality, and accessible to all. Production of the first biosimilar from this facility is expected within 18â€"24 months.
'Our long-term goal is clear: to build biomanufacturing capacity across Africa, by Africans and for Africans, ensuring that no patient is denied life-saving therapies due to prohibitive costs. With this partnership, Bio Usawa aims to make treatments for serious eye diseases accessible and affordable, aligning with Rwanda's strategic position as a healthcare hub in East Africa.
'We are immensely grateful to the Government of Rwanda for its steadfast commitment to advancing healthcare and are excited about the path ahead. Together, we look forward to transforming healthcare access across the continent and bringing affordable biologics closer to home,' said Menghis Bairu, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Bio Usawa.
Francis Gatare, Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer, lauded the partnership as a significant step in advancing Rwanda's healthcare sector and regional innovation.
'By establishing the first facility for monoclonal antibody-based biosimilars in the country, we are addressing critical healthcare challenges, including access to life-saving treatments like those for diabetic macular edema. This collaboration reaffirms Rwanda's commitment to improving healthcare access and building local capacity, ensuring sustainable solutions for Africa by Africans,' stated the RDB CEO.
The new partnership is part of Rwanda's efforts to increase healthcare capacity, transforming the country into a healthcare hub that offers quality services to locals and those beyond its borders.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
