A Nigerian Health Tech firm, Codix Bio, has been awarded a license to develop and manufacture a new generation of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) royalty-free for African consumers, using technology transferred from a South Korean firm. The deal is a breakthrough for WHO’s new Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) and the non-profit Medicines Patent Pool – which aim to facilitate tech transfer to the Global South post-COVID pandemic, when the dearth of local manufacturing left many countries short on medicines and diagnostics as well as vaccines.

Using innovative new technology supplied by South Korea’s SD Biosensor, Codix Bio will first develop and produce a new line of highly-sensitive rapid tests for HIV/AIDS, which can generate results within 20 minutes, WHO said in an announcement of the deal on Friday. But the technology can also be adapted to develop and manufacture tests for malaria and syphilis, among other diseases.

In December 2023, SDB signed a non-exclusive license with MPP to enable development and manufacture of new diagnostic tools using its cutting edge technology in low- and middle-income countries, in sharing arrangements brokered under the auspices of the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP).

In January 2024, CTAP morphed into HTAP – with a mandate to stimulate innovation and facilitate access to new health technologies beyond COVID tools in underserved regions, by expanding local manufacturing capacity. Through HTAP, WHO and MPP issued an open call for applications by LMIC-based manufacturers to produce diagnostics using the SDB innovations, with Codix Bio selected as the first sublicensee.  According to the original SDB license with MPP, the tech transfer is royalty free for product sales in low- and middle-income countries.

The WHO announcement coincided with a gala launch of the partnership at the Codix Bio campus in Ogun State, near Lagos, with the participation of the Korean firm alongside their Nigerian counterparts.

“This landmark agreement is a defining moment in our journey of health-tech innovation and a breakthrough for local healthcare manufacturing in Africa. Being selected as the first sublicensee under this global initiative underscores our commitment to contribute meaningfully to pandemic preparedness and regional health security,” said Sammy Ogunjimi, CEO, Codix Group.

“With support from WHO and MPP, we are committed to producing high-quality, rapid diagnostic tests that can transform access to timely diagnosis, not just in Nigeria, but across the continent,” he said.

“The announcement of this sublicensing agreement with Codix Bio marks an important milestone in our partnership with WHO and MPP,” said Hyo-Keun Lee, Vice Chairman of SD Biosensor, Inc. “By coupling the technology transfer with coordinated support, this initiative not only helps Codix Bio respond to health priorities in Nigeria and the region – it also demonstrates a collaborative model for building sustainable and self-reliant local manufacturing capacity.”

Speaking from Geneva, Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products called the agreement “a major milestone in strengthening manufacturing capabilities in regions where they are needed most.

“It can help advance global commitments made at the 2023 World Health Assembly to promote equitable access to diagnostics as a cornerstone of universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness.”

Image Credits: University of Washington Northwest Hospital & Medical Center.