A visiting team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has hailed the DEI Biopharma manufacturing facility in Matugga, stating that it provides a strong base for Africa to effectively respond to COVID-19 and other viruses using traditional medicine therapies.
The team, including members of WHO’s Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicine for COVID-19 Response (REACT), visited the facility on Monday, March 7. They were introduced to the fast-completing establishment of Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facility—the only fully integrated company providing all dosage forms for all types of drugs, including chemical, biological, and vaccines.
WHO’s Endorsement and Vision
Prof. Joseph Okeibunor, head of the visiting team, praised the “massive investment”, highlighting its potential to create employment across Africa and lead research and manufacturing in traditional medicines.
“We are proud of you! And I am sure this will be driven to fruition knowing the person behind it—the Lion’s Heart Minister [Dr. Musenero],” said Prof. Okeibunor.
He added:
“I am overjoyed because this is employment for Africa. I want to congratulate you and thank you for the opportunity to have come and see this massive investment.”
Minister Musenero Commends DEI Biopharma
Speaking after touring the facility with the WHO experts, Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, commended the DEI Biopharma team under the leadership of Mr. Matthias Magoola for their resilience and for providing a solution that will lead research and manufacturing of traditional medicines for Africa and humanity.
She stated:
“We need to be defiant against the situations that the world has in the past put us in, and we allow. We need to make Africa stand on her feet.”
Dr. Musenero further emphasized:
“The dream is to industrialize Uganda and Africa—turning it into an industrial hub so that we can fight poverty and underdevelopment. Until now, every effort has focused on subsistence improvement, but we are now shifting towards industry.
“We want to take our knowledge and intellectual property, transform it through manufacturing, and make it available to the world. This facility is a significant component in that value chain.”
DEI Biopharma’s Role in COVID-19 Treatment
DEI Biopharma is currently the only African company distributing COVID-19 treatment medicines and is preparing to supply one billion doses of an mRNA vaccine through collaboration with WHO.
After completing the facility tour, Mr. Matthias Magoola, DEI Group Managing Director, stated that DEI Biopharma has successfully addressed intellectual property issues and supply chain constraints to become the first African company distributing new medicines for COVID-19, antiviral treatments, and drug-resistant TB infections.
Approval of Molnupiravir and Other Essential Medicines
DEI Biopharma also announced the approval of its Molnupiravir drug, the first product for COVID-19 infection treatment, alongside plans to introduce other essential medicines, including:
- Paxlovid
- Fluvoxamine
- Ritonavir
- Nirmatrelvir
- Rilpivirine
Additionally, DEI Biopharma’s biological products facility will produce essential biologic medicines such as:
- Filgrastim
- Erythropoietin
- Trastuzumab
These products mark Africa’s first source of biosimilars.
State-of-the-Art Manufacturing
Mr. Magoola revealed that DEI Biopharma’s manufacturing facilities are built on modular platforms arriving from the EU and USA, ensuring compliance with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.
“These modules are fully cGMP compliant, enabling DEI Biopharma to produce the highest quality products, reducing the need to import lower-quality drugs,” he said.
DEI Biopharma’s portfolio also includes nutraceuticals, starting with the first US-patented treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which is expected to be distributed within 90 days.
Commitment to African Healthcare
Mr. Magoola emphasized that DEI Biopharma’s technology is sourced from the EU and USA, adhering to the highest cGMP standards and safety evaluations.
Once fully operational, DEI Biopharma will be the most prominent African company addressing the continent’s specific healthcare needs through the most modern drugs and therapies, alongside essential traditional medicines.
Accordingly, DEI Biopharma will play a crucial role in fulfilling Africa’s most urgent healthcare demands.
WHO’s Technical Mission to Uganda
The WHO team, part of a mission to Uganda, includes REACT members, experts from WHO headquarters, the Regional Office, Africa CDC, and WHO’s country office. Their visit, which began on January 30, 2022, aims to provide technical support for Uganda’s efforts to develop traditional-based therapies for COVID-19 treatment.
At the conclusion of their visit, the WHO team is scheduled to meet President Yoweri Museveni. Their itinerary has included visits to Uganda’s physical and knowledge-based facilities, including government installations, private-sector facilities, and institutions such as Makerere University.
DEI Biopharma’s Vision for a Self-Sustaining Africa
Under the leadership of Mr. Matthias Magoola, a professional chemist, DEI Biopharma is developing a multi-billion-dollar biological drug and mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility.
Launched by President Yoweri Museveni on July 6, 2021, this facility is part of the broader vision to make Africa self-sustaining in healthcare under the theme:
