Biovac
From the newsletter
Technology transfer agreements are becoming the primary mechanism to build pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Africa. The latest deal is a Kenya-Egypt agreement for Egypt to transfer pharmaceutical technology covering financing, product knowledge, regulatory registration systems and workforce skills development.
This follows a similar deal for Kenya in February, where BioVax Institute joined the World Health Organization technology transfer programme to build local vaccine manufacturing capacity, among other active deals across the continent.
With Africa set to meet 60% of its health-product demand through local manufacturing by 2040, these arrangements are opening access to higher-value segments of the pharmaceutical industry, like formulation, at a lower cost.
More details
The technology transfer deal between Egypt and Kenya was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 World Health Summit Regional Assembly in Nairobi. The agreement will enable pharmaceutical technology transfer and registration processes, production and manufacturing know-how for Egyptian pharmaceutical products, regulatory and product registration systems to enable market access and human resource and skills development in pharmaceutical production.
On 18 February 2026, Kenya launched a similar World Health Organization-backed technology transfer programme at a stakeholder event in Nairobi. Through the arrangement, the Kenya BioVax Institute receives end-to-end training and technical support, covering the full process from research and development through to large-scale vaccine production.
The programme is part of a global effort spanning fourteen countries, with African participants including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia. In June 2021, the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Programme established a South African hub at Afrigen and Biovac to build vaccine manufacturing capacity through technology transfer. Biovac received the first transfer in September 2024 and is building Africa’s first multi vaccine manufacturing capacity.
In July 2025, Bio Investments Group and the International Vaccine Institute launched a multi-country partnership supporting vaccine manufacturing through technology transfer. Bio Investments Group leads investment and manufacturing technology transfer, while the International Vaccine Institute provides scientific guidance and regulatory support, including WHO prequalification, with activities already underway in Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria.
Africa imports over 70% of its health products. During the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union, member states committed to meeting 60% of their medical product demand through local pharmaceutical production. However, full entry into manufacturing remains capital-intensive, making technology transfer the fastest way to build manufacturing capacity.
Our take
Technology transfer is lowering the entry barrier into pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly formulation and production stages that were previously capital-intensive and inaccessible.
It is also enabling a more networked manufacturing ecosystem, where capability is built through partnerships rather than isolated national production efforts.