Dei BioPharma Onboarded to Africa CDC’s Continental Pooled Procurement Mechanism, Securing Key Role in Africa’s Healthcare Sovereignty

KAMPALA, UGANDA — Ugandan biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturer, Dei BioPharma Ltd, has achieved a historic milestone after being formally registered as an approved supplier under the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM).

The continental procurement platform is coordinated directly by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).In an official notification, Dr. Mariatou Tala Jallow, Director of the APPM at Africa CDC, confirmed that Dei BioPharma successfully met all stringent technical and regulatory requirements to participate as a supplier under the pooled procurement arrangement.

Founded by renowned Ugandan scientist and innovator Dr. Matthias Magoola, Dei BioPharma operates a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing complex in Matugga, Wakiso District.

This onboarding shifts Uganda into a central position within the continental strategy to restructure how African countries procure essential medicines.By aggregating demand across member states, the APPM framework aims to lower costs, improve purchasing power, and eliminate historical supply chain vulnerabilities.

The efficacy of this model was recently demonstrated in Africa CDC’s inaugural APPM tender, which achieved price reductions between 30% and 90% below national benchmarks while stabilizing supply security.

"This milestone marks our transition from establishing advanced manufacturing infrastructure to executing a robust, regulated product pipeline capable of serving the entire continent," said Dr. Matthias Magoola.

"Africa can no longer rely solely on imported finished pharmaceutical products. We are ready to deliver high-quality, locally manufactured therapeutics that address our people's unique health burdens."

Dei BioPharma's readiness is backed by substantial regulatory progress within Uganda’s National Drug Authority (NDA). The company has submitted 65 product applications, resulting in 40 approved for manufacture and 14 fully authorized for commercial sale.Among its vital pipeline products are HYXUREA (Hydroxyurea 500mg), designed to tackle the heavy burden of sickle-cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa, and TRENMIC.

The diversification of these formulations underscores the rigorous quality control, stability evaluation, and analytical assessment systems active at the Matugga facility.

The expansion aligns directly with the African Union's strategic target to manufacture at least 60% of Africa’s health-product needs locally by the year 2040. Through the APPM, Dei BioPharma is uniquely positioned to bypass the fragmented national markets that have historically stifled African pharmaceutical innovation, unlocking the predictable demand necessary for sustained research and production scaling.

About Dei BioPharma Ltd:

Dei BioPharma Ltd is a pioneering Ugandan pharmaceutical and biotechnology company founded by Dr. Matthias Magoola. Operating from Matugga, Uganda, the company specializes in the research, formulation, development, and mass production of essential medicines, biologicals, and therapies tailored to global and regional health priorities.

About Africa CDC APPM:

The African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) is a centralized procurement initiative coordinated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). It serves to pool demand, standardize quality, and streamline the supply chain of critical medicines and health technologies across African Union Member States.