Sub-Saharan Africa - Biotech, Pharma and Life Science Channel
Sub-Saharan Africa is a massive market for biotechnology companies with its collection of tropical diseases, large populations and agricultural importance. It is not only a customer in this industry thought - it is an agricultural science hotbed; with research initiatives for local problems and the commercial growth of many GM products.
The agricultural aspect of the biotechnology industry here is being improved by The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). Because of the importance of agriculture to many of these economies, and the detrimental climate change may have on them, the sub-Saharan countries are in a position to utilize and lead in environmental biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. For example biofuels such as sugarcane and jatropha use local natural resources, and recently developed BioGel ( a wood substitute from ethanol and a gelling agent) can be used at the household level.
In the human side of the industry, nanotechnology is being developed in South Africa, in conjunction with the EU. As quality of life improves across the continent, it is becoming exposed to "western" diseases, such as obesity, and diabetes, providing incentive for research and development in these areas. The number of people with diabetes is expected to more than double to 288 million in 2030. Cancer is also an emerging challenge; in 2008 the African Cancer Reform convention addressed this problem.
Further biotechnology development with be strengthen by the 2001 African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology, generated by the African Union (AU). Additional support comes from the ABSF, which promotes biotechnology in Africa in a sustainable manner. It has 1300 individual members in 31 African countries across all disciplines within the industry. Its recent notable successes include helping the BioSafety Bill in Kenya and hosting the African Congress on BioTechnology in 2008, which attracted 400 delegates from around 40 countries all over the world, demonstrating how central Africa is to the Industry, not only as a customer, but as an engaged player.
Source; Adapted from SciDev Net and ABSF Africa
Add the Sub-Saharan Africa News Channel to your RSS reader;
News Articles
AHF: Global AIDS Patients, Doctors Lobby Congress on PEPFAR Reauth
AIDS patients and doctors from South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Haiti and Vietnam will visit 50 congressional offices this week to tell their personal stories and press legislators...
Discovery Launches The Vitality Institute to Help People Live Healthier, Longer While Reducing Costs
New research shows that Americans may be older than they think; pointing to a five-year gap between chronological age and risk-adjusted age As part of its com...
Equatorial Guinea To Renovate All Its Hospitals Within Four Years
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The government of Equatorial Guinea is working to renovate all the hospitals in the country within the next four years, according to...
eZono Appoints Dieter Schwartmann as Business Director EMEA
eZono AG (“eZono”), a private corporation designing, developing and distributing state of the art tablet ultrasound systems, today announced the appointment of Dieter Schwartm...
Centor, Inc. Acquires Nobewan Gold Concession in Ghana West Africa
WINTERPARK, Fla., May 13, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centor, Inc. (OTCBB:CNTO) is pleased to announce the acquisition of 100% interest in the Nobewan Gold Concession in Ghana West Africa from Bullnet G...
SEATTLE, May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. (OTCQB: PLPL), a producer of highly bioavailable plant extracts for industries including health, wellness, nutraceutical, and phar...
Munich Re Assumes Administration For NetGuarantee
NEW YORK, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Malaria No More, the New York-based parent company of NetGuarantee LLC (NetGuarantee), today announced that Munich Re will assume administration f...
Corgenix Gains CE Mark for ReLASV® Antigen Rapid Test for Diagnosis of Lassa Fever
Point-of-care diagnostic test enables rapid detection of deadly Lassa viral hemorrhagic fever and related bioterrorism threat Corgenix Medical Corporation (OTC BB: CONX...
Africare To Host The #Fast4Hunger Challenge in Recognition of World Hunger Day
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Africare, a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of people in Africa, will host a #Fast4Hunger Challenge on World Hunger Day...
SGU Doctors Say Increased Mobility is the Primary Cause of Global Disease
ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of doctors, veterinarians, and public health specialists responding to the first "One World, One Health, One Medicine" poll from...
Events
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs in Africa
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs in Africa
3rd Annual Advancing Clinical Research in Turkey, the Middle East & North Africa
With little growth in the traditional regions of North America and Western Europe, industry sponsored clinical trials are increasingly conducted in emerging regions.
Companies
Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc. intends to transform the world of nutraceuticals by making available extracts from live plant material that deliver the highest levels of bioavailability curr...
Mannatech develops high-quality health, weight and fitness, and skin care products that are based on the solid foundation of nutritional science and development standards. These p...
Insight Enterprises, Inc. is a leading provider of brand-name information technology (IT) hardware, software and services to large enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses an...
The Stafford Foundation collaborates with and invests in capacity-building efforts that equip the underserved through programs that provide health, education, training and faith-b...
yet2.com provides intellectual property consulting and licensing services to world-class clients around the globe. Yet2.com Inc. and its online marketplace were founded in 1999 to...
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. The company currently operates more...
Water.org is a non-profit organization that has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation ove...
Dr. Reddyâs Laboratories Ltd. (NYSE: RDY) is an integrated global pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Thro...
Apriso is a software company dedicated to helping its customers transform their global manufacturing operations. It does so by enabling manufacturers to achieve and sustain manufa...
Arthur Murray Dance Centers of Edina and St. Paul
Founded in 1912, Arthur Murray Dance Centers have been teaching Americans how to dance for 100 years. Arthur Murray Dance Centers are now located in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puert...
Clinical Trials
The Adult Antiretroviral Treatment and Resistance Study (Tshepo)
The "Adult Antiretroviral Treatment and Resistance Study," hereafter referred to as "The Tshepo Study," is the first large-scale research study of antiretroviral therapy to treat AIDS and...
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Suppression to Prevent HIV Transmission
The University of Washington has received funding to conduct a proof-of-concept trial to assess the impact of suppression of genital herpes on HIV infectiousness. This study (the Partners...
Genetic Studies in Liver Cancer Patients
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one the most common malignancies in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Since 1984, it has been the leading cause of cancer de...
In the context of Sub-saharian Africa, this trial evaluate one of the most simple treatment available for HIV-1 infected patients. The combination proposed is a triple antiretroviral thera...
Interrupting HAART during limited periods of time ("structured treatment interruption : STI") could entail benefits (better long term tolerance, lower drug-induced viral resistance, lower...
Plasmodium falciparum malaria and HIV are among the most important infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately two-thirds of the estimated 35 million HIV infected persons live...
Ready to Use Therapeutic Food in the Rehabilitation of Severely Malnourished Children
Severe malnutrition is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries especially sub-Saharan Africa. The hospital mortality rate due to severe malnutrition in devel...
Micronutrient deficiencies are common in HIV infected children and are aggravated by poor nutrition, especially in poor resource countries such as Uganda. It appears that micronutrient def...
Kintampo Trial of Combination Therapy for Malaria
Case management is one of the key strategies for malaria control in most endemic countries. Plasmodium falciparum malaria is becoming resistant to commonly used and cheap antimalarial drug...
Helping HIV Infected Patients in South Africa Adhere to Drug Regimens
Three or more anti-HIV drugs are taken in combination as part of a treatment regimen. These drug regimens must be closely followed in order to be successful. Having a support person watc...
PubMed Articles
Endocoil placement after endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage may prevent a bile leak.
To further reduce the risk of bleeding or bile leakage.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is commonly termed the 'amphibian chytrid fungus' but thus far has been documented to be a pathogen of only batrachian amphibians (anurans and caudatans). It is not...
Rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP) have frequently been associated with genetic relatedness between social mates in socially monogamous birds. However, evidence is limited in mammals. Here, we invest...
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) represent aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, particularly in the setting of HIV infection. Since the introduction of highly active...
BACKGROUND: Misuse of blood by clinicians was suggested to explain blood shortage in sub-Saharan Africa although based on little evidence. This study evaluated whether routine halving (restricted) of...
Frequency and correlates of anxiety and mood disorders among TB- and HIV-infected Zambians.
Abstract We determined the frequency and correlates of current common mental disorders (CMDs) in a consecutive series of 649 adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB) o...
Collective Efficacy and HIV Prevention in South African Townships.
South African townships have high HIV prevalence and a strong need for collective action to change normative sexual risk behaviors. This study investigated the relationship between perceptions of indi...
Near Fixation of 374l Allele Frequencies of the Skin Pigmentation Gene SLC45A2 in Africa.
The L374F polymorphism of the SLC45A2 gene, encoding the membrane-associated transporter protein that plays an important role in melanin synthesis, has been suggested to be associated with skin color...
Why South Africa's proposed advertising ban matters.
Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infection in Europe, with an increasing proportion of them acquiring HIV after migration. This transformation in the epidemic pat...
Videos
Perpetuum Jazzile - Africa
Perpetuum Jazzile is an XXL vocal group from Slovenia. Toto's Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile, performed live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2008 (October 2008) - arrange...
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Tribulus
A plant genus of the family ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. Members contain steroidal saponins. Ingestion by grazing animals causes PHOTOSENSITIVITY DISORDERS called geeldikkop (yellow thick head) in South Africa.
Ceratitis Capitata
A species of fruit fly originating in sub-Saharan Africa but widely distributed worldwide. One of the most destructive fruit pests, its larvae feed and develop on many different fruits and some vegetables.
Brachiaria
A plant genus of the family POACEAE originating from the savanna of eastern Africa. It is widely grown for livestock forage.
Mesembryanthemum
A plant genus of the family AIZOACEAE. It is a native of Africa and widely planted for erosion control to stabilize soil along roadsides and beaches.
Geigeria
A plant genus of the family ASTERACEAE that causes vermeersiekte poisoning of sheep in South Africa. Members contain dihydrogriesenin and ivalin (sesquiterpene lactones).
