International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) Partnership
Director-general of the ICGEB, Dr Lawrence Banks, announced at the 2021 BIO Africa Convention an initiative that will bring enormous improvements to the lives of patients. The ICGEB, an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to advanced research and training in molecular biology, biotechnology, advancing knowledge and applying the latest techniques in the fields of biosimilars, biopesticide and bioenergy seeks to enter into strategic partnerships with the National Bioproducts Institute (NBI) Kwazulu Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP UKZN) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) as an output of the BIO Africa Digital Convention hosted by Africabio.
The ICGEB’S main objective is to increase access to biosimilars through fostering internal domestic production capacity in the field of biopharmaceuticals in ICGEB Member States, with the aim of achieving targets set towards good health and wellbeing, innovation, infrastructure and reducing inequalities.
This strategic partnership in the biotechnology industry will allow these KZN technology-based organisations to gain a foothold in biosimilar discoveries and advances in science for the purpose of public commercial use.
The National Bioproducts Institute is a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Its core business is the manufacture of biopharmaceutical products from human plasma into derived medicinal products. The institute also develops and manufactures diagnostics kits and monoclonal antibodies for the South African and international diagnostic market.
“Partnerships that help with growth and scientific impact that create societal mandates and impact communities are essential,” said Professor Mosa Moshabela. A partnership between KRISP UKZN and ICGEB will be seen in pre-clinical and clinical trials that go with the biosimilars rollout while the Technology Innovation Agency will play a role in the capacity to translate a greater proportion of biosimilars research and development into potential commercial technology products.
In industries such as healthcare and biotechnology, the high cost of commercialisation makes it difficult for research to succeed on its own. To overcome this challenge the ICGEB aims to form partnerships and collaborations in Africa whereby therapeutic reagents and diagnostic kits can be produced locally, which will cater to the African population at an affordable price.