Purdue University Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Science (BIRS) Program: Sustainable Medicines in Africa

By: Meisha Sampson, Limited-Term Lecturer, Purdue University, BIRS Program

The BIRS Africa Symposium March 2023

126 students ascended on the St. Carolus, Tengeru Guest and Retreat House in Tengeru/Arusha, Tanzania to apply what they have been learning all semester virtually to hands-on interactive sessions. Topics covered included Vaccine Manufacturing, Clinical Trials, Quality Culture, and Regulatory concepts. The 2-week symposium concluded with a celebration for the 2023 BIRS candidates that are completing course work to receive their Purdue University Master of Science concentration in Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Science.

Student Spotlight

Although others pushed Nelly Kimani to not pursue her project, through encouragement of BIRS professors, she decided to move forward with her project related to identifying the challenges of the local manufacture of essential medicines in Kenya.

Essential medicines satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population by saving lives, reducing suffering, and improving health. Essential medicines are selected based on disease prevalence, public health relevance, clinical efficacy and safety evidence, comparative costs, and cost-effectiveness. These medicines are usually dispensed free of charge in public health institutions in Kenya. It is of concern that many of the essential medicines found in the local Kenyan markets are imported, and their prices are perceived to be lower than those of similar products manufactured locally. Many non-governmental institutions with missions in Kenya and the region supplement government efforts, and they procure quality and cost-effective essential medicines from local manufacturers or importers.

The study aims to identify the causes behind the perceived high prices of locally manufactured essential medicines compared to similar counterparts imported into the country and thereafter understand the challenges local manufacturers face that lead to high prices. Understanding the challenges is key to developing practices and policies to reduce production costs and potentially allow competitive prices for locally manufactured drugs. In addition, learning the techniques practiced by countries that exclusively manufacture for export may inform what can be adopted locally.

The study will compare the prices of the 10 fastest-moving essential medicines that are locally manufactured and those of similar counterparts imported into the country. Price data will be obtained from a Local Humanitarian Procurement Centre (HPC) and the current Kenyan Drug Index. A literature review will be used to establish the manufacturing practices in the countries that import to the region and the pricing of essential medicines.

The findings will be used to identify challenges faced in the local manufacturing industry and recommend practices that can be adopted to improve the current pharmaceutical manufacturing scenarios in Kenya and the region at large.

About BIRS Sustainable Medicines in Africa

The BIRS (Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Science) Sustainable Medicines in Africa program began in 2014. Our vision is to provide needed capacity building in order to improve quality of life and promote public health in African sub-regions. Our mission is to ensure access and affordability of quality essential medicines through capacity building with innovative educational programs, research, and pharmaceutical manufacturing in African subregions.