Overview of Current Drug Discovery Activities in Africa and Their Links to International Efforts to Combat Tropical Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Africa’s drug discovery activities are largely shaped by the interests of international programs and funders, often not engaging with countries and their public health needs. These activities are also concentrated in countries where science and technologies receive significant attention as in South Africa, Tunisia, and Egypt. South Africa is incontestably the leader in drug discovery activities either on the basis of academic or pharmaceutical firms’ contributions in Africa. Capabilities do exist within Africa in the various drug discovery and development stages and commercialization for the following areas: basic and exploratory discovery research relevant to drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and insecticides, hit identification, hit to lead identification, lead optimization, natural products and traditional medicines, management of intellectual property, preclinical toxicology and safety pharmacology, clinical studies, regulatory expertise, process chemistry/ raw materials, manufacturing/formulation, and marketing and phase iv/pharmacovigilance. However, low levels of investment in science and technology and the lack of collaboration between key actors, a critical mass of drug scientists and a coordination of research activities, remain major challenges for the development of health innovation on the continent.

Annexes

1.1.1 Annex 1 Examples of Countries/Institutions with Capacity to Carry Out Basic Exploratory Research Relevant to Heath Products

Country	Institution
Botswana	Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana
Burkina Faso	Institut de recherche pour le développement
Cameroon	Centre de Recherche pour la Santé des Armées (CRESAR)  Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya, Centre Hospitalier  Universitaire (CIRCB/CHU)  Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC)  Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Département de Chimie Organique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I  Centre de Biotechnologie de Nkolbisson, Université de Yaoundé I  Institut Médical et d’Etudes des Plantes Médicinales
Congo	Centre d’Etudes des Ressources Végétales/Groupe de Recherches Biomédicales (CERVE/GRBM)
Egypt	Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Minufiya University Theodor Bihar Research Institute, Giza Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa University Jimma University
Gabon	Centre de Primatologie, Centre International de Recherches Médicales (CIRMF)
Ghana	Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ghana Faculty of Pharmacy, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kenya	Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Department of Biochemistry, Kenyatta University Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi
Madagascar	Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées (IMRA)
Mali	Malaria Research and Training Centre (MRTC) Department of Traditional Medicine of the National Institute for Research in Public Health (INRSP)
Morocco	Laboratory of Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Cadi Ayyad University, Béni Mellal
Nigeria	Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) University of Nigeria Nsukka, Federal University of Technology Owerri University of Benin University of Ibadan University of Maiduguri University of Calabar, University of Jos and others Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University
South Africa	Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) University of Cape Town (UCT), many South African universities
Sudan	University of Khartoum, Institut de Endemic Diseases
Tanzania	Department of Chemistry, Dar es Salaam University
Tunisia	Laboratoire des Mycobactéries, Institut Pasteur de Tunis Laboratoire d’immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Avenue Avicenne
Zambia	The Malaria Institute at Macha
Zimbabwe	African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST)

1.1.2 Annex 2 Examples of Countries/Institutions with Capacity to Carry Out Natural Products Research

Country	Institution
Cameroon	University of Buea Institut medical et d’etudes des plantes medicinales (IMPM) Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I Laboratory of Chemistry, University of Dschang
Egypt	Schistosome Biological Supply Center (SBSC), Theodor Bilharz Research Institute Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria
Ethiopia	The Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathology, University of Addis Ababa
Ghana	Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, School of Pharmacy
Kenya	Kenya Medical Research Institute
Madagascar	Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées (IMRA)
Mali	Department of Traditional Medicine of the National Institute for Research in Public Health (INRSP)
Morocco	Laboratory of Endocrinian Physiology and Pharmacology
Nigeria	National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Lagos Federal University of Technology Owerri University of Ife, Imo State
South Africa	University of Cape Town (UCT) Medical Research Council University of Pretoria University of Limpopo University of Western Cape University of Witwatersrand University of KwaZulu-Natal
Sudan	University of Khartoum National Center for Research

1.1.3 Annex 3 Examples of Countries/Institutions with Capacity to Carry Out Clinical Trials

Country	Institution
Angola	Faculdade de Medicina, Agostinho Neto University, Faculty of Medicine
Benin	Regional Center for Entomological Researches of Cotonou (CREC) Réseau Béninois de Recherche et de Communication sur le SIDA Université Nationale du Benin, Faculte des Sciences de Santé
Burkina Faso	African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN), Muraz Center (MC) African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN) Centre National de Lutte contre le Paludisme (CNLP) Ecole Supérieure des Sciences de la Santé Ouagadougou University Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo Hospital
Burundi	ANSS—Burundi Programme National de Lutte contre la Lèpre et la Tuberculose (PNLT) University of Burundi, Faculty of Medicine
Cameroon	Ministry of Public Health Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte contre les Endemies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC) Centre de Recherche pour la Santé des Armées (CRESAR) Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CIRCB/CHU) University of Yaounde, Faculty of Medicine Central African Republic Centre National de Reference des MST et du SIDA National University Hospital
Côte d’Ivoire	OCCGE Institut Pierre Michet Université d’Abidjan-Cocody, UFR Sciences Médicales Université de Bouake, Faculty of Medicine
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Université Catholique de Bukavu, Faculté de Medicine University of Kinshasa, The Faculty of Medicine: Ecole de Santé Publique University of Kisangani, Faculty of Medicine University of Lubumbashi, Faculty of Medicine
Ethiopia	Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Vaccine Research and Development Task Force Jimma University, Institute of Health Sciences Medical School of Gondar University of Addis Ababa, Department of Medicine; School of Pharmacy
Gabon	International Center for Medical Research (CIRMF) The Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Medical Research Unit Université Omar Bongo, Faculté de Médicine et des Sciences de la Santé (FMSS)
Gambia	Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratories University of The Gambia Medical School
Ghana	Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Navrongo Health Research Center Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Severe Malaria in African Children (SMAC) site Kintampo Health Research Centre
Kenya	International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) Moi University, College of Health Sciences The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) United States Army Medical Research Unit—Kenya (USAMRU-K) University of Nairobi
Madagascar	Institut Pasteur de Madagascar Universite d’Antananarivo, Faculté de Médecine Université de Madagascar (Mahajanga), Faculté de Médecine
Mali	University of Mali, Malaria Research and Training Center
Morocco	Ibn Rochd Hospital
Mozambique	Centro de Investigacao em Saude Manhica (CISM) Universidade Catolica Beira, Medical School Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Medicine
Namibia	University of Namibia, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Nigeria	Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Federal Medical Center Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Nnamdi Azikiwe University Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences University of Calabar, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital University of Ibadan, College of Medical Sciences University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital University of Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital University of Nigeria, College of Medicine University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
Republic of Congo	Laboratoire National de Santé Publique
Rwanda	National University of Rwanda, School of Public Health National University of Rwanda, Faculty of Medicine Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC)
Senegal	Research and Development Institute University of Dakar (Université Cheikh Anta Diop)
South Africa	Aurum Research Unit, Aurum Health Research Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, South Africa c/o Medical Research Council Medical Research Council, South Africa (MRC) Global Alliance for TB Drug Development South Africa c/o Medical Research Council Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) South African HIV Vaccine Action Campaign (SA HIVAC) The South African National Institute for Virology (NIV) University of Cape Town, Faculty of Medicine University of Natal, Faculty of Medicine University of Pretoria, Centre for the Study of AIDS University of Stellenbosch, Faculty of Health Sciences—School of Medicine University of the Free State, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Transkei (UNITRA), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Witwatersrand
Sudan	Juba Teaching Hospital Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) University of Khartoum, Institute of Endemic Diseases
Tanzania	African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU), Faculty of Medicine Muhimbili University College of Medical Research National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania Essential Health Interventions Project (TEHIP) The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) The Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCMC) Vignan’s International Medical and Technological University, Faculty of Medicine
Uganda	AIDS Information Center AMREF Uganda Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) Makerere Institute of Social Research Makerere University, Institute of Public Health Mbarara University of Science and Technology Med Biotech Laboratory Mildmay Palliative Care Center National Chemotherapeutics Laboratory (NCTL) The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Uganda AIDS Commission Uganda Virus Research Institute
Zambia	Chainama Hills College Hospital Tropical Diseases Research Centre University of Zambia, School of Medicine Uganda Virus Research Institute
Zimbabwe	Batsirai Group Biomedical Research and Training Research Institute Blair Research Institute, TVBU Chitungwiza Hospital The Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) University of Zimbabwe-Bulawayo College of Health Sciences University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Medicine University of Zimbabwe-Bulawayo College of Health Sciences