By Doris Obinna
Codix Bio has been officially announced as the first African manufacturing partner under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Technology Access Pool (HTAP) programme, a ground breaking development for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The announcement was made during the commissioning of Codix Bio’s state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic test (RDT) manufacturing facility in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The partnership, facilitated by WHO, SD Biosensor, and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), marks a major milestone in strengthening regional healthcare manufacturing capacity. Codix Bio will now serve as a key player in the production of high quality, locally manufactured RDT kits, enhancing Africa’s capacity for disease detection and health security.
As part of the WHO HTAP programme, Codix Bio will benefit from full technology transfer, regulatory support, and a sublicensing agreement with SD Biosensor and MPP. This will enable the Nigerian firm to legally produce rapid test kits for infectious diseases such as HIV, Malaria, and Hepatitis B and C, using SD Biosensor’s advanced diagnostics platform. The new facility is designed to produce over 147 million test kits annually, making it the second of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, who commissioned the facility, lauded the project’s transformative potential. “This milestone marks a leap forward in our efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system through innovation, local investment, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted the facility’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “With more than 90 per cent of diagnostic kits in Africa currently imported, this facility significantly reduces our dependency on foreign supply chains, conserves foreign exchange, and creates high-value jobs,” he said.
WHO’s Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, hailed the facility as a “game-changer” for Africa’s health security. “This is more than a manufacturing milestone. It’s a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnership, technology transfer, and local empowerment.”
Codix Bio’s parent company, Codix Pharma Group, is also investing in human capital through the Codix Academy, which partners with Olabisi Onabanjo University to train students in biosensor technology and nanoscience. “Beyond infrastructure, we are committed to developing the next generation of scientists,” said Chairman and Group Managing Director, Mr. Sammy Ogunjimi.
He further emphasized the importance of regulatory harmonization across Africa, urging stakeholders to support frameworks like the Africa CDC, AfCFTA, and African Medicines Agency. “Once NAFDAC approves a product, it should be able to move freely across the continent,” he stated.
The commissioning event attracted dignitaries from government, academia, traditional institutions, and global health organizations, reflecting the strategic significance of Codix Bio’s new role in global and regional healthcare manufacturing. This development not only boosts Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity but also establishes a model for scalable, sustainable health solutions across Africa.