The local manufacture of pharmaceuticals in South Africa has received a ZAR13 million shot in the arm.

The Holistic Drug Discovery and Development centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) will use the funding – from the US Agency for International Development – to test new continuous flow technology for the cost-effective manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in South Africa.

According to UCT, most APIs used in medicines in Africa currently have to be imported.

H3D’s pilot project involves technology transfer to and capacity building of UCT scientists, who will employ a Synthetron system to synthesise antiretroviral agents used to prevent and treat HIV, more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Once proof-of-principle has been demonstrated, the technology will be evaluated by local manufacturer CPT Pharma for possible adoption.

‘This collaboration will facilitate both technology transfer and on-the-job-training skills development,’ says H3D director Kelly Chibale.

18 April 2023
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