Best Vaccine Manufacturing Pharma Company 2024

Established in Uganda in 2014, Dei BioPharma Ltd is a biotech and pharmaceutical research company under Dei Group of Companies (Dei Group), founded by Dr Matthias Magoola, specialising in the manufacture of innovative medicines and vaccines. Dei BioPharma Ltd is proudly the first biotech company in Africa to manufacture life-saving biologics, biosimilars, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, and peptides – making these medicines affordable and accessible on the African continent for millions of people. Notably, the company’s significant successes have included the discovery of the new malaria compounds to treat malaria, and it has filed more than 50 patents in the USA so far for treatment of a wide range of other diseases. In light of Dei BioPharma Ltd being recognised within the African Excellence Awards 2024, we learn more about how it’s taking the world of medical and pharmaceuticals by storm.

Over the years, professional biochemist, Dr Matthias Magoola has secured more than 3,000 formulations, which have created vast potential for new life-saving vaccines, anti-cancer drugs, therapeutic proteins, peptides, cell therapy, and more. A well-respected scientist, inventor, and pioneering drug developer, he previously worked with the Department of Geological Survey and Mines in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. He is a thought leader and innovative entrepreneur who, with extensive mining, medical, and pharmaceuticals experience, has led Dei Group to establish a portfolio of six sub-companies across diverse sectors, including the flagship Dei BioPharma Ltd, alongside Dei Technologies, Dei Minerals, Dei Farms, Dei Investments, and Dei Industries.

Dr Magoola is a published advanced therapeutics researcher and innovator, with his papers featuring in highly respectable scientific journals. A few examples of these heavily peer-reviewed articles include: “Synergistic Approaches in Neurodegenerative Therapeutics: Multi-Target Drug Innovative Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease”, “Advances in Escherichia coli-Based Therapeutic Protein Expression: Mammalian Conversion, Continuous Manufacturing, and Cell-Free Production”, “mRNA and Synthesis-Based Therapeutic Proteins: A Non-Recombinant Affordable Option”, and many more in European and US journals.

The other publications to Dr Magoola’s name include: “Harnessing T-cell Immunity for Vaccines”, “Microbiome Impact on Neurological and Autoimmune Disorders”, “Advances in Escherichia coli-Based Therapeutic Protein Expression”, “mRNA and Synthesis-Based Therapeutic Proteins”, “Synergistic Approaches in Neurodegenerative Therapeutics”, “Innovative Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease”, “Engineered Antibodies to Improve Efficacy against Neurodegenerative Disorders”, and “Unlocking the Future of Drug Development”.

When Dr Magoola founded Dei Group in 2006, it was a small mining company, which went on to become one of the largest private sector companies in Africa, valued at more than $2 billion, thanks to its team’s great insight into several areas affecting society, including agriculture, technology, medicine, and research. Dr Magoola has, throughout his time of leading the group, followed the entrepreneurial belief he formed when he was of a young age: to find a real customer need and continuously innovate to address it.

As such, Dei Group is continuously innovating, its mission being to deliver high-quality, affordable nutrition, health, and technology products that change lives for the better. The group strives to be at the leading edge of the sectors it serves and to have a positive impact on those who make up its community. At the heart of its operations lies the mantra of “Moving Forward”, which doesn’t only represent the group, but a way of life. As a consumer-driven business, Dei Group prioritises studying the market and understanding exactly what consumers want and need, which is why it is constantly investing in the innovation of its brands, partnering this with the vision to become the most celebrated business in Africa.

“As a brand, [Dei Group of Companies is] committed to generating and creating opportunities that will uplift, transform, and enhance the lives of our consumers across the different industries, keeping in mind the changing needs and trends of our era.”

Dei BioPharma Ltd was founded under Dei Group with the aim to become a globally acclaimed biotech and pharmaceutical company that produces a diverse range of vaccines and low-cost drugs to treat diseases that affect many people. Well on the way to fulfilling this mission, its $1 billion 150-acre Drugs and Vaccines Manufacturing Plant sits in the Wakiso District in Matugga, Uganda. The manufacturing plant was opened here in 2021 by President Yoweri Museveni and then-Kenyan Vice President (now President) William Ruto.

At the launch of the facility, the leaders each expressed great positivity that it would make Africa self-sustaining in the world of healthcare – and they were right. Mr Ruto’s delight was unmistakable as he spoke about how the facility would not only produce medicines to supply to Africa, but also across the globe, finding it gratifying how this meant that Africa would become a significant source of healthcare solutions on a global scale.

Now, the manufacturing plant consists of 10 different state-of-the-art facilities, these each specialising in vaccines, generics, nutraceuticals, oncology/cancer, penicillin, cephalosporins, non-beta-lactam, injectables, WFI, parentals, medical device, and ophthalmic. Additionally, it boasts the vital YKTM (Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni) GLP Biotech Laboratories, which covers the groundbreaking components of cancer research, QA/QC, drug discovery, gene therapy, cell therapy, mRNA therapeutics, vaccines, biosimilars, and biologics. Crucially, the facility has the ability to manufacture biological drugs, cytokines, therapeutic protein, peptides, and monoclonal antibodies. It is this part of the facility that cost more than $1 billion, and that which makes the facility so one-of-its-kind and game-changing.

Dei BioPharma Ltd’s manufacturing plant produces high-quality, affordable medicines to cure a variety of illnesses, utilising the latest technologies such as mRNA and Cas9 to make a difference to the lives of millions of families across Africa. This includes the development of a drug to treat malaria, which contains natural herbs and can cure the disease in around three days. Dr Magoola has advised how, just as Uganda discovered malaria compounds, it is expected that, with the work of Dei BioPharma, the country will become the very centre of excellence for drug discovery using plants and herbs in the world, since 70% of all biodiversity is found in the region.

In 2022, experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) commended the company for its manufacturing facility, identifying it as a base for Africa to effectively respond to COVID-19 and other viruses. Leading the team, Prof. Joseph Okeibunor says, “This massive investment will provide immediate employment for Africa and lead research and manufacturing in traditional medicines.”

“We’ve been called dreamers, inventors, rebels, risk takers, pioneers, geeks, and path-finders. We embrace those labels because in many ways, they’re true. We dream big. We invent bigger. And, most importantly, we often do what many thought was impossible.”

It was in May this year that Dei BioPharma Ltd was granted the landmark license to begin manufacturing drugs at its facility by the National Drug Authority (NDA), which represents a significant achievement for the company.

Not only is Dei BioPharma Ltd providing revolutionary healthcare products for its home region, but it also branching out globally. Having already filed a patent for its malaria cure in the USA, Dr Magoola shares how big pharma is very interested in further collaboration with Dei BioPharma Ltd, particularly with how anti-microbial drugs resistance is a real problem that is pushing the world to rapidly discover new drugs. Dr Magoola states, “Our competitors are not in Africa but the developed world. Even in the developed world, our competitors are happily collaborating with us! Because our technologies are not only changing Africa, but the globe!”

It is already clear to see the dedication of Dei BioPharma Ltd – and Dei Group as a whole – towards the health and wellbeing of both the people of Africa and around the world. This extends further to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which remains focused on helping those who are in need and living in underprivileged communities, in the areas of health, education, drinking water, and sanitisation. Dei BioPharma Ltd utilises its own internal resources, such as research, marketing, financial, human resources, and products to maximise its ability to help, have an impact, and increase the reach of its CSR efforts.
Also, within this commitment, the company’s EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) Policy means it maintains a safe, clean, and healthy working environment for its employees and served communities. By adhering to the highest standards in its plant design, equipment selection, maintenance, and operations, Dei BioPharma Ltd’s EHS Policy remains at its core. Also, it has established an ISO14001:2015 compliant Environmental Management System and ISO 45001:2018 compliant Occupational Health and Safety Management System at its facility, further underscoring its dedication. Dei BioPharma facilities have been built to meet the most stringent global Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) including US FDA and EU EMA and WHO standards among others.

Ultimately, it is highly evident how Dei BioPharma Ltd has come to be recognised as Best Vaccine Manufacturing Pharma Company 2024 within the African Excellence Awards, with its outstanding vaccine offering, which is made possible through cutting-edge facilities and expert staff. It is an organisation that goes above and beyond, extending its work further to perform crucial, trailblazing medical research and manufacture life-saving medicines. The company has solidified its position on the global map as an industry leader, with the vital role it is playing within our healthcare industry today. Considering all this, we at MEA Markets magazine simply cannot wait to see what this best-in-class organisation does next.

For business enquiries contact Dr Matthias Magoola via
[email protected] or www.deibiopharma.com / www.deigroupinternational.com