Kenya has invited Belgian biotech firm Univercells Group to partner with the Kenya Medical Research Institute and establish a hub in the country.
The company is best known for making biologics, which are medical products made from living organisms or contain components of living organisms.
The announcement was made when President William Ruto visited Univercells Group’s biotech centre in Belgium, in the company of Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Nakhumicha Wafula.
Statehouse said “once finalised [the partnership] will also include skills transfer to boost the country’s human capital in the pharmaceutical industry.”
“The investment your organisation is going to make in Kenya is testimony that the Global South is not as risky as they are being profiled,” Ruto said, according to a statement.
Univercells has not issued any statement on the plan.
The company came to Africa last year through a collaboration with South African-based consortium Afrigen Biologics for the development of the first African-owned Covid-19 vaccine, which is yet to be produced.
In a statement, Kemri said the partnership, which will now rope in Unizima, the South African affiliate of Univercells Group, would include among other areas, expertise, advisory support, training and technology transfer.
Kemri's acting director general Prof Elijah Songok welcomed the move.
“We are excited about this partnership with Unizima in Belgium that will surely provide Kemri with expertise, advisory support, training and technology particularly in the area of biomanufacturing ecosystem which is fundamental to the Kenyan people," he said.
"Kemri is living its mission of providing leadership in human health research, capacity building and service delivery, and this landmark initiative with the Belgians is a clear indication.”
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Health added the proposed partnership will focus on the manufacturing of vaccines and drugs.
“Additionally, the partnership will include skills transfer to enhance the country’s human capital in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring that the project has a lasting impact,” the ministry said.
“By leveraging the latest biotechnology solutions and working with industry leaders like Univercells, Kenya is poised to achieve its goal of providing quality healthcare services to all its citizens.”