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TDRnews November 2008

African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI)

New network launched in Abuja, Nigeria

Africa bears the greatest burden of disease in the world today but it has little control over the source and supply of medicines most needed by its citizens.

At the launch of a new African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI), 6-8 October, participants from 21 countries committed to support the new network dedicated to improving the ability of African countries to bring forward new medicines and diagnostics. The meeting issued recommendations covering advocacy, funding and organizational structure required to achieve the goals for the new ANDI network.

  • FUNDING: creation of a sustainable funding mechanism to support investment in African-based R&D initiatives through an African Innovation Fund.

  • ADVOCACY: The new network will advocate to facilitate investment and translation of research to concrete products and policies in Africa including those based on traditional medicines.

  • GOVERNANCE: A task force will be established to develop a strategic blueprint and business plan for ANDI, and identify a permanent home for a new ANDI secretariat in Africa. The report from the Task Force will be presented at the next ANDI meeting, planned for 2009. Africa bears the greatest burden of disease in the world today but it has little control over the source and supply of medicines most needed by its citizens.

“Nigeria is in full support for ANDI,” said Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President of the Nigerian Government, which played host to the conference in Abuja.

“We understand the pivotal role of R&D to national development.” “We are pleased with the support and enthusiasm ANDI has generated so far,” said Dr Solomon Nwaka, leader of drug discovery and innovation in TDR, who has been a key actor in the establishment of the new African R&D network. “To ensure sustainability, it is important for Africa to participate in the discovery, development and delivery of the health tools they need the most,” he added.

ANDI’s creation follows numerous calls by international health and policy experts for increased investment in health R&D in Africa. The WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (2001), the UN Millennium Project (2005), the G8 Gleneagles report on Africa, the Noordwijk Medicines Agenda (2007) and most recently the WHO Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (WHA 61.21), all stress the need to promote health-related R&D and economic development in developing countries.

“ANDI is a valuable niche in the global strategy,” said His Excellency Tom Mboya-Okeyo, Ambassador of Kenya in Geneva, referring to those efforts. He led ANDI’s concluding conference session. African-based researchers and institutions have the capacity to develop new drugs and diagnostic tools for diseases affecting the continent, but are hampered by a lack of coordination and funding to the continent, concluded a new draft study on the landscape of health product R&D in Africa. The study was presented at the three-day ANDI meeting as a basis for dialogue and strategic planning.

Capacity for R&D exist in Africa

The report, drafted by TDR in collaboration with African institutions, concluded that “significant, but isolated, product discovery and development activities are ongoing…greater effort is needed to bring groups working in this area together so they may join forces, share lessons, and explore a more coordinated approach to health R&D and innovation.”

The study noted that while there are important African initiatives underway in lead discovery and development, particularly for natural products, no single African country or institution has demonstrated the capacity to move from basic research to the registration and commercialization of a new drug.

“However, consultations with many experts suggest that this can be achieved through a strategic mechanism to support relevant, continent-wide activities in a coordinated and structured manner,” the report stated.

The report also noted that African institutions have an “untapped potential to expand their work in diagnostics development and vaccine research, especially through genomics. Indeed, several African institutions have already been able to discover and commercialize new diagnostic tools.”

African hospitals and institutions also have the capacity to undertake clinical trials, however it is not clear to what extent most of the clinical centres can yet carry out studies to international Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards, as well as pre-clinical Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) safety assessment. Raw material processing and manufacture of local products to international Good Manufacturer Practice (GMP) standards was identified as a challenge.

The report also reflected the interest of African experts in promoting research on effectiveness and use of traditional medicines, as well as development of mechanisms to guide and govern the use of intellectual property, including use of local knowledge about traditional African medicinal remedies.

R&D investment in Africa

“Many international and philanthropic agencies have invested in, and continue to support, research and capacity building in Africa,” the report concluded. “Yet available capacity in Africa has not been systematically harnessed to promote local health innovation efforts. A continent-wide effort such as ANDI requires not only greater funding, accountability, and coordination but also a constant assessment of R&D environment on the continent.”

Declarations from recent ministerial meetings on health research also have emphasized the need for more investment and commitment from African governments. ANDI will be relevant in the realization of a strategic plan to develop Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, developed by the African Union, supporting the discovery and evaluation of potential products. The goal is now to develop locally sustainable health research and development, coordinated through ANDI as an African-based and led organization. TDR Director Dr Robert Ridley said, “ANDI will help connect people and give African scientists the opportunities to lead and manage this research and development. We believe that this approach will lead to long-term sustainability and success.”

Resources and information:

ANDI background documents, including health product R&D

in Africa, and collection of meeting abstracts and the meeting’s

draft summary of minutes and recommendations.:

TDR CONTACT Dr Solomon Nwaka