Rwanda

Novartis leads the fight against malaria, pioneering innovative studies in sub-Saharan Africa to combat parasite resistance to current antimalarials.

The Pink Sheet highlights recent comments and insights from pharma officials and executives on key issues we are covering.

The Swiss major’s global health chief Lutz Hegemann tells Scrip on a trip to Rwanda that being a profitable enterprise while helping to improve access to new and older therapies for those who need it most is the real measure of a successful business.

As Congress pressures FDA to increase foreign inspections, the agency unveils plans to strengthen its overseas presence, including new offices and more staff in the New Delhi, India, post. Deputy Commissioner Kimberlee Trzeciak notes the moves are resource dependent.

Rwanda’s health minister says the new body will play a key role in promoting cooperation and mutual recognition of regulatory decisions by individual agencies across the continent.

Africa is taking steps to massively increase its vaccine production capacity and reduce its heavy dependence on other countries for supplies. Muthoni Wanyeki of the Open Society Foundations explained to the Pink Sheet how COVID-19 has highlighted the need for action and why it is important to keep up the momentum achieved so far.

The small central African country has been chosen to host the planned African Medicines Agency and is also set to be a key player in medicines and vaccines manufacturing technology on the continent.

Africa represents a new frontier for health and beauty firms. With significant economic growth and a population explosion forecast for the continent, now is the perfect time to start thinking about the Africa opportunity, market expert Ben Longman told the recent Ceuta International Conference.

Catalyst Principal continues east Africa health care investing; GOED MOU with US-China Health Products; class action against IntenseX dismissed; Prime Nutrition brand under Hi-Tech roof; and more news in brief.

GlaxoSmithKline says it will no longer be filing for patent protection for its medicines in leastdeveloped and low-income countries. The firm is also set to be the first company ever to commit future oncology products to patent pooling.