Kinshasa, DRC — A Milestone in Healthcare: Senegalese Pharma Giant Breaks New Ground with Sickle Cell Treatment In a groundbreaking development for Africa’s healthcare landscape, Teranga Pharma, a Senegalese pharmaceutical company, has launched the first Africa-made treatment for sickle cell disease. This generic version of hydroxyurea, a gold-standard treatment for the condition, is poised to revolutionize access to care for millions of patients across the continent.
The treatment, named Drepaf, was launched in November 2025, with the aim of making the medication more affordable and better tailored to the needs of patients. Africa accounts for nearly 80% of all sickle cell disease cases globally, a disorder that affects millions and is a leading cause of death among children under five in the region. For Mamadou Tahirou, an 18-year-old affected by sickle cell disease, the locally produced treatment offers relief and hope, easing the financial burden on his family. “.
It hurts a lot, and you suffer so much. And when you don’t have enough resources to protect yourself from the illness, you suffer even more, “Tahirou told Africanews. Mouhamadou Sow, CEO of Teranga Pharma, emphasized the importance of making the active ingredient accessible to Africans. “.
Africans do not have access to the active ingredient. So the first key point is that Teranga Pharma has enabled Senegalese and Africans to gain access to this molecule, “he.
The introduction of the African — made treatment represents a significant step towards reducing the procurement costs of treatment, making it more accessible to low-income patients. Africa has long relied on expensive medicines imported from Europe and the Americas, especially hydroxyurea, the treatment recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The medication helps reduce painful crises, hospitalizations, the need for blood transfusions, and premature death. This initiative is backed by $7. 1 million in funding and comes at a time when access to imported treatments has become difficult.
Teranga Pharma is working with an Indian technical partner to increase production and supply to other African nations.
The company has already begun collaborating with Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, and has received requests from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon. Teranga Pharma aims to meet demand from the entire sub-Saharan continent by 2030, as part of a strategy to strengthen Africa’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
