South African Labs Strive for Africa’s Biopharma Sovereignty
Africa still imports 99% of its routine vaccines and 70–90% of its biopharmaceuticals. The Africa CDC warns this vulnerability could cost the continent up to $1.1 trillion in skills and jobs through 2050. The post South African Labs Strive for Africa’s Biopharma Sovereignty appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
South African laboratories are working towards securing Africa's biopharmaceutical industry, as the continent still imports nearly all of its medical biologics. This reliance on imports could lead to a loss of up to $1.1 trillion in skills and jobs by 2050, according to the Africa CDC. Immobazyme, a prominent South African startup, is aiming to change this by developing low-cost, decentralized biotech R&D and manufacturing solutions.
The company is focusing on advanced biomanufacturing and precision fermentation to produce affordable, high-value recombinant proteins, enzymes, and growth factors. Nick Enslin, co-founder and COO of Immobazyme, explains that South Africa, being the most industrialized nation on the continent, needs to update its regulations to keep pace with the rapid advancements in biotechnology.
While Africa has potential to domesticate its medical biologics supply chains, the reality is challenging due to the limited number of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities for biosimilars on the continent. Immobazyme's innovation includes a proprietary enzyme immobilization technology, PepTrap, which allows enzymes to be reused cost-effectively across multiple industries.
The company aims to establish a GMP facility for manufacturing biosimilars and expand into other biotech sectors such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverages, and agribiotech.
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