Codix Bio Limited has been selected as the first African manufacturing partner by the World Health Organization (WHO), SD Biosensor, and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) under the WHO Health Technology Access Pool (HTAP) programme.
This designation, marking a significant milestone for regional production of rapid diagnostic test kits (RDTs) in Africa, was celebrated with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art factory in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The Executive Chairman and Group Managing Director of Codix Pharma Group, Sammy Ogunjimi described the commissioning as a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey towards healthcare security.
He reaffirmed Codix Pharma’s commitment to regional integration frameworks such as the Africa CDC, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
Ogunjimi further explained that the company, through its sublicensing agreement with SD Biosensor and MPP, will receive proprietary rights, technical expertise, and materials to develop and produce rapid diagnostic test kits based on SD Biosensor’s advanced platform. This technology will enable the production of versatile diagnostics for both pandemic and inter-pandemic periods, marking a transformative step in improving equitable healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, expressed pride in hosting such a groundbreaking project. Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in his keynote address, emphasized that the commissioning aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted that the new facility not only enhances local production but also saves foreign exchange, creates jobs, and strengthens Nigeria’s public health response capacity.
