Page 11 - IDC
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6 CITY PRESS, 28 AUGUST, 2016
Local
medicine
goes nuclear
There are more than 7 billion people in the world and just
over 1 billion of them live in Africa, yet the continent
carries a quarter of the world’s disease burden.
Despite having infectious diseases such as HIV,
tuberculosis and malaria to contend with, Africa now also
A has to deal with lifestyle diseases, which were previously
PROJECT IN only a concern in developed countries.
The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030,
PARTNERSHIP diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes will
WITH THE kill more people on the continent than all the infectious
diseases combined.
IDC capacity for pharmaceutical research and local drug
Calls have been increasing for Africa to strengthen its
production to withstand the emerging double epidemic.
Two years ago, the UN Economic Commission for Africa
revealed that out of 54 African countries, only 37 have
some sort of pharmaceutical production – with South
Africa having the most well-established companies.
Local technology company, Klydon, and Maono
Molybdos – part of a leading black consortium active in
nuclear medicine – have responded to this call. The
companies, in partnership with the Industrial
Development Corporation (IDC), are currently constructing
a highly advanced Molybdenum isotope (used in medical
nuclear imaging) separation plant.
Nuclear medicine uses radiation to provide diagnostic
information about the functioning of a person’s specific
organs, or to treat them. Diagnostic techniques in nuclear
medicine use radioactive tracers, which emit gamma rays
from within the body. These tracers are generally short-
lived isotopes linked to chemical compounds that allow
specific physiological processes to be observed. They can
be delivered orally, by inhalation or by injection.
Molybdenum isotopes will be used to produce a
technetium radioactive tracer for medical imaging, mostly
used to detect cancer and other infections. Technetium
scanning is the workhorse of nuclear medicine. Early
detection of cancer and other diseases gives patients a
better shot at survival, and contributes to reducing the
burden associated with these diseases.
Nelis Geyer from the IDC said: “This development will
transform the global industry, solving numerous problems
being encountered by the existing nuclear reactor-based
route to produce radioactive tracers.
“Nuclear medicine is undeveloped in the developing
ALL BOXED UP A worker at Specpharm in Midrand packages medication for distribution PHOTO: ELIZABETH SEJAKE world, largely because of the high cost and unavailability
Fighting companies. The institution has always focused on companies
of radiopharmaceuticals, and this development is ideally
placed to address these challenges.”
The IDC has a long history of funding pharmaceutical
that develop medication for priority diseases such as HIV,
tuberculosis and malaria, among other illnesses.
Now it is adapting its focus to include radiopharmaceutical
medicine which will be beneficial considering the increase in
the number of cancer cases in Africa.
Radiopharmaceutical medicine is used to detect cancer
early, a move that Sonia Keulder, head of chemical
products and pharmaceuticals at the IDC, says will not
only benefit South Africa but also the continent.
HIV IN SA area of growth is in radiopharmaceuticals.
“If you look at the world’s pharmaceutical focus, an
“If we can allow for manufacturing capacity and
capability in South Africa, we should be able to meet the
continent’s demand in future and beyond,” she said. –
Zinhle Mapumulo
Overseas suppliers are driving the high cost of ARVs, but one local firm R690m
is giving the medical playing field an overhaul, writes Zinhle Mapumulo
THE AMOUNT THE IDC
outh Africa is in dire need of a steady supply of GET FUNDED! INVESTED IN THE
quality and affordable antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. The IDC can help you get your business idea off the ground or
The country has the largest ARV programme in take your existing business to the next level. PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR
the world, with more than 3.6 million patients Call 0860 693 888 or email callcentre@idc.co.za.
accessing the life-saving medication in the public The sectors the IDC operates in are: IN THE FIVE YEARS UNTIL
Shealthcare sector alone. . Agroprocessing and agriculture MARCH 2016
This figure is expected to increase significantly by the end of . Automotive and transport equipment
this year as the government rolls out its test-and-treat campaign, . Basic metal and mining
which is likely to increase the patient load by up to a million . Basic and speciality chemicals
people in the next few months. . Chemical products and pharmaceuticals 14
But despite the enormous volumes of medication involved in its . Clothing and textiles
HIV-treatment programme, South Africa still relies on . Heavy manufacturing
international pharmaceutical companies for the active . Industrial infrastructure TOTAL NUMBER OF
components in the ARVs. . Light manufacturing and tourism
None of the local pharmaceutical companies that supplies the . Machinery and capital equipment BUSINESSES SUPPORTED
medication to public clinics and hospitals produces them. . Media and motion pictures
Instead, they buy the ingredients that go into ARVs (called . New industries
active pharmaceutical ingredients, or API) and formulate them 481
into tablets, meaning the real winners are the international
pharmaceutical companies. way for the BPMA to submit the proposal to the IDC for
However, that may soon change as a group of black funding.
pharmaceutical manufacturers are rallying together to change the Bringing such technology into the country comes with a hefty NUMBER OF JOBS
status quo. price tag, something that the BPMA members cannot afford, and
Specpharm, a black-owned pharmaceutical company employing they have turned to the IDC to fund their venture. The IDC is CREATED
230 people – from packers to highly skilled chemical engineers – Eugene Lottering now a 35% shareholder in Specpharm.
is one of those companies giving the medical playing field an The IDC also has an interest in API manufacturing. WHERE THESE
overhaul. “The IDC is supportive of the idea. We are waiting for
Speaking to City Press this week, its managing director, Specpharm to finalise their agreement with Fluxpharm so that we BUSINESSES ARE:
Dr Eugene Lottering, said the idea of opening a local, active can consider the investment,” she said.
pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing plant was long Lottering was hoping that the IDC would give them a chance.
overdue. “We are trying to solve a huge problem through this project. GAUTENG
“Antiretroviral drugs are the largest sold medicines in South You can’t have the biggest ARV programme in the world with the
Africa,” he said. “About 75% to 80% of the price of the ARV drug active ingredient coming from international pharmaceutical
goes towards the purchasing of the active ingredient. This means producers, when we have the capability to make it locally,” he
that billions of rands leave this country to go to international said.
pharmaceutical manufacturers.” He explained that the benefit of this would be great for South 10
Currently, four local pharmaceutical companies – Sonke Africans.
Pharmaceuticals, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Aspen Pharma and “For example, if the government says there is a shortage of
Cipla Medpro – share the R14.2 billion ARV tender to supply drugs ARVs right now, it would take us at least two months to get the
to public hospitals and clinics. All these companies import the APIs imported and another month to formulate them into tablets.
active ingredients that go into the ARVs from India and China. But if the APIs were manufactured locally, it would take us a few WESTERN CAPE
Lottering said the problem with this was that ARV prices days to supply,” Lottering said.
changed whenever the rand weakened against the dollar. Four years ago, the IDC joined a task team that formed Project
“For example, if the exchange rate at the time of going to Ketlaphela, which would have established the first pharmaceutical
tender is R11 to the dollar and the exchange rate suddenly plant able to manufacture APIs in South Africa.
switches to R16 to the dollar, the price has to go up – otherwise The in-progress project could be funded by a capital investment
we are not going to generate profit from selling it to government. of up to R1 billion by various state institutions, including the IDC. 3
“The government would then be forced to pay local Sonia Keulder, head of chemical products and pharmaceuticals
manufacturers more than was agreed when the tender was at the IDC, said they were looking forward to receiving the
awarded. business proposal.
“But if we make the active ingredients locally, those price Sonia Keulder Lottering is not worried about how this would affect the NORTH WEST
changes that happen owing to importation are no longer a Ketlaphela project. He said the BPMA had adopted an inclusive
significant factor. The price remains stable and you have security Lottering said talks were at an advanced stage. approach, rather than a competitive one.
of supply of the medication you want as a consumer,” he said. “We are looking at importing a technology called continuous “Ketlaphela is a state-owned company trying to do something
Specpharm and other members of the Black Pharmaceutical manufacturing technology from Germany,” he said. in the private sector. We invited them to all the meetings we had
Manufacturers’ Association (BPMA) have started to implement its “The technology will enable us to compete with India and with the technology distributors out of Germany to explain what
plan to open an API plant. They have been in talks with a China. We are licensing it from Fluxpharm and we are in the last the technology is about. 1
German company that develops the technology needed to stages of finalising the licensing agreement.” “We have support from them and they are interested in
produce APIs. Lottering expected it to be finalised next month, paving the participating in it as well,” he said.
