€2m boost for Ghana pharmaceutical research and vaccine innovation

Ghanaian research institutions and pharmaceutical companies have been awarded €2 million in grants to advance vaccine and medicine development for local and regional markets. The funding supports eight projects under the PharmaVax Ghana programme, which aims to enhance collaboration between researchers and pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring health innovations from labs to market.

The initiative, jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union, is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute.

The selected projects tackle diverse health challenges such as malaria, chronic diseases, vaccines, and infectious diseases. For instance, one project is developing a fast-dissolving malaria tablet for children, aiming to make treatment more convenient and accurate. Another project applies artificial intelligence to support the creation of monoclonal antibodies and diagnostics for malaria and Mpox.

Other research teams will explore the use of locally developed herbal treatments for conditions like hypertension, prostate health, and alcohol-related liver disease.

Additionally, the projects will concentrate on improving the stability and regulatory approval of locally produced vaccines and snake venom antiserum. With a total grant funding of €2 million, Ghanaian partners will contribute an additional €425,000. The selection of the eight projects was based on technical merit, potential public benefit, local manufacturer involvement, and the sustainability of research beyond the grant period. A committee of nine Ghanaian experts made the final selections.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh highlighted the importance of bringing together researchers, manufacturers, government officials, and international partners through this programme to translate scientific discoveries into medicines and vaccines. Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, CEO of the National Vaccine Institute, emphasized Ghana's existing scientific expertise and growing pharmaceutical industry capability to develop tailored health products.

The investment aims to expand Ghana's domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and reduce supply vulnerabilities for essential medicines and health products.

The National Vaccine Institute, established in 2023, coordinates Ghana's vaccine, serum research, development, and manufacturing efforts. GIZ is supporting research and development, skills enhancement, regulatory strengthening, technology transfer, and investment promotion within the sector. German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshöft, noted that the partnership will connect Ghanaian research, manufacturing, and innovation with German technology and investment, with the goal of supporting local production of medicines and vaccines for Ghana and potentially the broader West African market.

This initiative is expected to strengthen Ghana's domestic pharmaceutical industry while offering opportunities for Ghanaian innovations to transition from research institutions into commercial production and regional markets.