A Nigerian Health Tech firm, Codix Bio, has been awarded a license to develop and manufacture a new generation of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) royalty-free for African consumers, using technology transferred from a South Korean firm. The deal is a breakthrough for WHO’s new Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) and the non-profit Medicines Patent Pool, which sought to prioritize tech transfer to the Global South post-COVID pandemic, the dearth of local manufacturing left many countries short on medecines and diagnostics as well as vaccines.
Using innovative new technology supplied by South Korea’s SD Biosensor, Codix Bio will first develop and produce a new line of highly-sensitive rapid tests for HIV/AIDS, which can can generate results within 20 minutes, WHO said, in an announcement of the deal on Friday. But the technology can also be used for manufacturing tests for malaria and syphilis, among other diseases.
In December 2023, SDB signed a non-exclusive license with MPP to enable development and manufacture of new diagnostic tools using its cutting edge technology in low- and middle-income countries, under the auspices of the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP).
In January 2024, CTAP morphed into HTAP – with a mandate to facilitate access to new health technologies well beyond COVID tools, amongst manufacturers in underserved regions. Through HTAP, WHO and MPP issued an open call for applications by LMIC-based manufacturers to produce diagnostics using the SDB innovations, with Codix Bio selected as the first sublicensee. According to the deal with HTAP, the tech transfer is royalty free for product sales in low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO announcement coincided with a gala launch of the partnership at the Codix Bio campus in Ogun State, near Lagos, with the participation of the Korean firm alongside their Nigerian counterparts.
“This landmark agreement is a defining moment in our journey of health-tech innovation and a breakthrough for local healthcare manufacturing in Africa. Being selected as the first sublicensee under this global initiative underscores our commitment to contribute meaningfully to pandemic preparedness and regional health security,” said Sammy Ogunjimi, CEO, Codix Group.
“With support from WHO and MPP, we are committed to producing high-quality, rapid diagnostic tests that can transform access to timely diagnosis, not just in Nigeria, but across the continent,” he said.
“The announcement of this sublicensing agreement with Codix Bio marks an important milestone in our partnership with WHO and MPP,” said Hyo-Keun Lee, Vice Chairman of SD Biosensor, Inc. “By coupling the technology transfer with coordinated support, this initiative not only helps Codix Bio respond to health priorities in Nigeria and the region – it also demonstrates a collaborative model for building sustainable and self-reliant local manufacturing capacity.”
Image Credits: University of Washington Northwest Hospital & Medical Center.
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