Clinical Trials in Africa
The African continent is home to over 17.7% of the world’s population and 3% of the global pharmaceutical market; however, despite the unique advantages that Africa offers, such as its distinctive and diversified genetic pool, Africa still attracts less than 3% of registered clinical trials in the world. According to GlobalData figures, the worldwide percentage of clinical trials started and completed in Africa between December 9, 2012, and March 8, 2023, was 2.2%. This disproportionately low representation in clinical research is due to several deficiencies and challenges cutting across local partnerships and participation, misinformation, local expertise, etc.
About Xcene Research and Impact Africa Summit
Xcene Research, an indigenous African Contract Research Organization (CRO) bringing clinical trials to a more diverse population in Sub-Saharan Africa, is setting the pace and changing the Sub-Saharan African clinical trial narrative through the Impact Africa Summit (IAS).
Impact Africa Summit (IAS) is Africa’s largest gathering of pharmaceutical research and development experts, clinical trials professionals, government officials, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders. The Summit takes the lead in driving the conversation on strengthening clinical trials in Africa, leveraging industry leaders and professionals. The inaugural Impact Africa Summit took place in December 2020 and has ever since become a remarkable platform for highlighting the incredible opportunity and advantage the clinical research industry in Africa offers.,
The 2021 edition, themed “Building Sustainable Capacity for Clinical Research Through Partnerships in Africa” was attended by over 200 guests. Speakers included the Director Generals of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).
The 2022 edition was themed “Clinical Trials with Inclusion of Africa: Achieving Clinical Research Equity, a Key Step Toward Healthcare Innovation in Africa”. The event was attended by over 400 guests, including renowned industry speakers from America, Europe, and Africa, as well as the Director Generals of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). The summit had representatives from Ghana, Kenya, Gambia, Ethiopia, and Zambia’s food and drug regulatory bodies.
The 4th edition of the Impact Africa Summit, held in 2023, also had participants from different countries in Africa, Europe, and America. The summit featured a conference on day one with outstanding national and international speakers, including the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, and many other thought leaders. Day two of the summit was a breakout session featuring a haematology symposium, a nephrology symposium, a patient advocacy breakout room, a laboratory breakout room, a clinical operations breakout room, and a regulatory breakout room. The summit showcased Africa’s readiness to participate in more clinical trials, highlighting local expertise, the pool of patient populations, infrastructural and regulatory developments, and cost-effectiveness as some of the factors.
Conclusion
Xcene Research is passionately committed to acting as a catalyst for accelerated access to life-saving treatments in Sub-Saharan Africa. We have the local knowledge, clinical experience, and internal resources to offer sponsors a wide range of specialized services throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Our expertise as a pioneer African CRO stems from our intimate knowledge of the local healthcare ecosystem, which enables us to traverse the African clinical trial landscape with agility.
The trust of the communities, regulatory bodies, and clients we have served over the years has contributed to our operational success. We believe in Africa, and we are here to play our part in its success.
