A deal with China will enable Nigeria to join Egypt and South Africa as a producer of insulin, the drug that is essential to control diabetes.

Diabetes is increasing exponentially on the continent, and is projected to affect almost 60 million people by 2050 – a massive increase from the 2.5 million estimated cases in 2000.

The memorandum of understanding between Nigeria’s National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Limited of China was announced last week.

“Chinese companies are in talks with Nigeria to build Africa’s first local insulin production facility, potentially ending Nigeria’s reliance on imported insulin and positioning it as a hub for African biotechnology,” Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai said.

However, two other African countries are already making insulin. Egypt’s EVA Pharma began producing insulin in 2024 in partnership with Eli Lilly, which supplied the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) at reduced cost alongside free technology transfer. 

This has enabled EVA Pharma to formulate, fill and finish insulin vials and cartridges aimed at low- and middle income countries (LMICs).  

The local insulin, called glargine, received regulatory approval from the Egyptian Drug Authority in December 2024.

“Less than two years after the initial announcement, EVA Pharma has completed a new biologics manufacturing facility, finalized insulin formulations and stability testing processes, engaged with the local regulatory authorities to obtain approval of the insulin glargine injection, and released the first batch of the locally manufactured insulin drug product,” the company announced at the time. 

Meanwhile, the South African generic company Aspen signed a deal with Danish company Novo Nordisk to fill-and-finish insulin vials, although details of the deal are not public.

However, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi are facing investigation in South Africa after the for anti-competitive activity in the insulin pen market. This follows the refusal of Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lily, which produce 90% of insulin pens on the continent, to tender to supply the South African government with insulin pens.