In a major stride toward global health equity, Ugandan biotech company DEI BioPharma has announced plans to manufacture Lenacapavir (marketed as Yeztugo)—a revolutionary HIV treatment—at a drastically reduced cost to benefit millions across the developing world.
The drug, developed by U.S.-based Gilead Sciences and recently approved by the FDA, is a bi-annual injectable with a current market price of $28,000 per year. DEI BioPharma, however, plans to produce it in Uganda for under $50 (approximately UGX 180,000), making it affordable for low-income populations.
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This initiative is made possible by Uganda’s status as a Least Developed Country (LDC) under the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, which allows for the production of patented medicines without violating international intellectual property rules until 2034. DEI BioPharma aims to begin production within 18 months, potentially becoming the first manufacturer globally to offer Lenacapavir at such low prices.
“This will be Africa’s first full HIV treatment regimen available at a cost our people can manage,” said Dr. Matthias Magoola, DEI’s founder and managing director. “Africa bears the heaviest HIV burden, but affordability has always been the biggest barrier. We’re dismantling that barrier.”
The impact could be transformative. HIV remains a major public health challenge in Africa, and Lenacapavir—an advanced capsid inhibitor requiring only two injections per year—offers hope for easier, more effective treatment. Until now, the high cost has kept it out of reach for most Africans.
DEI’s efforts could help reposition Lenacapavir from an elite option for the rich to a frontline weapon in Africa’s HIV response. But their ambitions go far beyond HIV. DEI BioPharma is also scaling up production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for critical drugs targeting diseases like cancer, malaria, diabetes, and hepatitis.
Located in Matugga, Wakiso District, DEI’s ultra-modern facility—commissioned in 2021 by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and William Ruto of Kenya—is set to become a biotech powerhouse. With 30 manufacturing lines, the facility will produce a broad spectrum of medical products, including generics, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, mRNA-based treatments, and biologics.
The plant has the capacity to manufacture up to one billion doses of mRNA vaccines annually, meeting the stringent quality requirements of regulatory bodies such as the U.S. FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). DEI has already filed more than 100 patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting its commitment to homegrown innovation.
The initiative also holds economic promise. DEI expects to create over 40,000 jobs, boosting Uganda’s science and healthcare sectors.
“This isn’t just a medical breakthrough—it’s about self-reliance,” Dr. Magoola stated. “Uganda and Africa have the talent and capacity to lead in biotech innovation on a global stage.”
At a time when healthcare inequality remains a global issue, DEI BioPharma’s move is a landmark development for Uganda and the wider Global South. By turning a $28,000 medication into a $50 lifeline, Uganda is sending a powerful message: healthcare should be a basic human right, not a privilege for the wealthy.
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