Ugandan biotechnology firm Dei BioPharma has secured new patents for Ebola and Mpox vaccines, signaling a major step toward Africa’s scientific and pharmaceutical self-reliance.
The announcement was made by Dr. Matthias Magoola, founder of Dei BioPharma, at the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa, organized by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Dr. Magoola highlighted the company’s readiness for inspection by the Africa CDC technical team at its Drugs and Vaccines Manufacturing Facility under development in Matugga, near Kampala. He emphasized that Dei BioPharma is poised to be designated Africa’s Contract Drug Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and aims to become the continental hub for APIs, biologics, vaccines, oncology, mRNA, and cell and gene therapies.
He stated, “We urge African nations to rally behind us. We are ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa CDC to formalize our role as a continental CDMO.”
At the conference, Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, called for increased investment in research and development (R&D), describing it as the “missing link” for Africa’s economic and health transformation, and urged the conversion of scientific knowledge into profitable industries.
Raji Tajudeen, Deputy Director-General of Africa CDC, stressed that health sovereignty depends on sustained R&D and local manufacturing, noting that Africa, with a population of 1.5 billion, produces only 1% of its vaccines.
The patented Ebola and Mpox vaccines utilize mRNA technology to encode viral glycoproteins in a lipid-nanoparticle formulation, enabling faster, safer, and scalable production without live virus.
Dr. Magoola noted this approach allows Africa to respond rapidly to outbreaks and reduce dependence on external suppliers. “This is a transformative milestone for Africa, affirming that high-impact innovation can originate and be owned entirely on the continent,” he said.
Dei BioPharma has ambitious plans to accelerate Africa CDC’s target of producing 60% of vaccines locally by 2040, potentially reducing the timeline from 15 years to just 7.
The facility in Matugga will serve as Africa’s first fully integrated biopharmaceutical complex, producing vaccines, biosimilars, and RNA-based therapeutics.
Dr. Magoola’s leadership has been recognized globally, including multiple international awards in 2025, such as the African Excellence & Personality Award and Uganda’s Faces of Science Award.
Under his guidance, Dei BioPharma and its parent, Dei Group International, have filed over 100 patents spanning oncology, infectious diseases, and advanced therapies, cementing its position as one of Africa’s leading biotech innovators.
“The patent is more than scientific recognition—it is continental empowerment. Africa is no longer waiting for solutions; it is creating them,” Dr. Magoola said.
About Dei BioPharma:
Dei BioPharma is a subsidiary of Dei Group International, dedicated to advancing Africa-born innovations from lab to market while reinvesting in local research, job creation, and regional capacity building. Its portfolio of mRNA platforms is adaptable for emerging infectious diseases including Marburg and Lassa fever.
