Kampala, Uganda – Dei BioPharma Ltd has announced a strategic collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Mulago, aimed at improving access to advanced cancer treatments and cutting-edge research in Uganda and beyond.
The announcement was made by Dr. Matthias Magoola, Founder and CEO of Dei BioPharma Ltd, on the sidelines of the 5th Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care, held under the theme “Embracing Uniqueness and Empowering Communities.”
Speaking to the media, Dr. Magoola emphasized the urgency of addressing cancer as a global health crisis—not just a problem limited to Africa.
“Cancer is a big problem—not only in Africa but across the entire world. Through our collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute, we are introducing synergistic, high-impact solutions that will change the face of cancer treatment on the continent,” said Dr. Magoola.
A Four-Pillar Plan to Fight Cancer
Dr. Magoola outlined a comprehensive, four-pronged strategy that Dei BioPharma is undertaking with the Uganda Cancer Institute:
- Local Manufacturing of Life-Saving Drugs and Vaccines
Dei BioPharma plans to begin manufacturing biological drugs, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines that can prevent or treat specific types of cancers such as lung and kidney cancers. Many of these drugs, like pembrolizumab (marketed as Keytruda), are currently inaccessible in Africa due to exorbitant costs.
“These are critical drugs for treating cancers like lung, kidney, and others. Yet they are practically unavailable here due to price barriers. But now, after discussions with the U.S. FDA, we are moving toward new regulatory pathways, such as bypassing certain clinical efficacy trials, to make these drugs more accessible,” said Dr. Magoola.
- Breakthrough Patents and Innovations
Dr. Magoola revealed that Dei BioPharma has filed over 100 patents, with two recently gaining attention from the U.S. Patent Office for their revolutionary approach to cancer treatment:
A novel combination of mRNA technology and CRISPR-Cas9 to target stubborn and advanced cancers.
A vaccine-based immune alert system that helps the body detect “cold tumors”—non-painful tumors often discovered too late.
“We recently lost a brilliant staff member to undetected lung cancer. That tragedy pushed us to develop solutions that alert the immune system early—even when tumors are silent. One of our patents addresses this very issue and has been published in the International Journal of Oncology Vaccines,” he said.
- Gene and Cell Therapy Unit at Uganda Cancer Institute
In one of the most significant moves, Dei BioPharma will relocate its advanced gene and cell therapy unit—including CAR-T cell technology—from Matugga to the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago.
“This is cutting-edge, personalized medicine—gene therapies that can cost up to $2 million per treatment in the West. By building this capability at UCI, we’re bringing hope to patients in Uganda and across Africa who otherwise could never access such treatments,” said Dr. Magoola.
- Affordable Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
To reduce costs further, Dei BioPharma is setting up facilities to manufacture its own active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for cancer drugs—ensuring affordability and sustainability.
“With over 25 products in development, we are creating our own APIs. This will significantly lower production costs and make these critical drugs affordable to the average African,” he noted.
Dr. Magoola stressed the broader economic and developmental impact of these initiatives. He cited that a single cancer drug like pembrolizumab generates over $30 billion annually—more than the combined revenue of all East African companies.
“We will soon be manufacturing such drugs in Uganda, and the tax revenue alone will uplift our economy dramatically. This could push Uganda’s GDP beyond $500 billion in the future,” he said.
A New Dawn for Cancer Care in Africa
The collaboration between Dei BioPharma and the Uganda Cancer Institute marks a turning point not only for Uganda but for the entire African continent, which continues to face disproportionate cancer mortality due to late diagnoses and lack of access to advanced treatment.
Pending final government approvals, the new gene therapy unit at UCI will be the first of its kind in Africa, signaling a new era of homegrown innovation, affordable medicine, and world-class care.
“These innovations are not just for Uganda—they are solutions the entire world needs. We are proud to lead this transformation from right here in Africa,” concluded Dr. Magoola.
The 5th Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care continues to highlight critical gaps and opportunities in oncology care, bringing together policymakers, researchers, healthcare providers, and innovators under one roof. This year’s focus on empowering communities is made even more tangible through partnerships like that of Dei BioPharma and the Uganda Cancer Institute.
