RWANDA—The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has partnered with Bio Usawa Inc., a US-based healthcare company, to launch Rwanda’s first manufacturing facility for affordable treatments for severe eye diseases, including diabetic macular edema (DME).
Bio Usawa Inc. specializes in increasing healthcare access across Africa by locally producing and distributing affordable monoclonal antibodies.
These advanced treatments, also known as mAb biosimilars, are crucial for managing conditions like DME.
This eye disease arises when fluid leaks from damaged or weak blood vessels, causing swelling in the retina—the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision.
DME affects approximately 7–10% of people with diabetes and can lead to permanent blindness if untreated.
Although effective mAb treatments for DME are readily available in high-income countries, access remains limited in African nations despite the rapid rise in diabetes cases across the continent.
This new manufacturing plant, a first in Rwanda, aims to change that by producing affordable, high-quality biosimilars locally. Production is expected to begin within 18 to 24 months.
Speaking about the partnership, Menghis Bairu, CEO of Bio Usawa, emphasized the company’s vision to build biomanufacturing capacity across Africa.
“Our aim is clear: to ensure that lifesaving therapies are produced by Africans, for Africans, so no patient is denied treatment due to high costs,” he said.
He further expressed gratitude to the government of Rwanda for its support and commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure.
Francis Gatare, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, described the collaboration as a major step forward for Rwanda’s healthcare sector.
He stated that establishing a monoclonal antibody manufacturing facility will help address critical healthcare gaps, such as the need for accessible and affordable treatments for conditions like DME.
Gatare added that the partnership reaffirms Rwanda’s commitment to improving healthcare access and building sustainable solutions for the continent.
Both leaders expressed their gratitude for the Rwandan government’s unwavering support and their shared excitement about the project’s potential to revolutionize healthcare across Africa.
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