Africa has historically been a consumer rather than a producer of pharmaceutical innovations, but this is changing. My work and the establishment of EMMACEUTICS is proof that African scientists and entrepreneurs can lead groundbreaking drug discoveries.
- Emmanuel Kiyonga
Let’s meet you introduce yourself.
I am Emmanuel Mukisa Kiyonga, a pharmaceutical scientist, medical researcher, and entrepreneur dedicated to transforming drug formulation and accessibility in Africa. My expertise spans drug design, synthesis, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical commercialization.
My academic qualifications include:
• BSc in Occupational and Environmental Health
• Bachelor of Pharmacy
• Master of Pharmacy from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
I have had the honor of securing the first registered patent for SMU, marking a historic milestone for the university. My research on crystalline systems for solubility enhancement of Raloxifene Hydrochloride (RLX-HCl) has positioned me as a leading innovator in pharmaceutical sciences.
I have also been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including:
• Overall winner of the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Award, competing against 599 students nationwide
• APSSA Young Scientist Award (National Winner)
• First place for postgraduate podium presentation at SMU Research Day
Beyond research, I am the founder of EMMACEUTICS, a pharmaceutical company focused on drug development, production, and distribution. My mission is to drive high-quality, affordable medicine production in Africa, ensuring that life-saving treatments are accessible to those who need them most.
Can you share your journey into the field of pharmacy and being a medical researcher? What is the inspiration behind it?
My journey into pharmacy and medical research is deeply rooted in my upbringing and education across Uganda and South Africa.
I started my academic journey in Uganda, attending:
• White Angels Infant School (Masajja)
• Little Stars Parents School (Najjanankumbi)
• Buwate Primary School
• Tumbu Primary School (Mwera)
• St. Barnabas Primary School (Muyenga), where I completed Primary 7
I later moved to South Africa, where I studied at Christian Progressive College (Pretoria) from Grade 8 until Matric, before pursuing my higher education at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the healthcare challenges in Uganda and across Africa, where essential medicines remain out of reach for many due to high costs and limited local production. This experience fueled my passion for pharmaceutical innovation, with a focus on making drugs not just more effective, but also more accessible and affordable.
Through cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship, I aim to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world patient impact. My work with Raloxifene Hydrochloride (RLX-HCl) is a testament to this vision, as it offers a cost-effective and improved treatment option for breast cancer and postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Being in the medical field is not an easy feat. Tell us, what are some of the challenges you faced while developing your novel drug formulation aimed at treating breast cancer and improving postmenopausal osteoporosis?
Developing a novel drug formulation comes with numerous challenges, including:
• Limited access to advanced research facilities: Conducting high-end microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and chromatography analyses requires specialized equipment, which is often difficult to access in Africa.
• Funding challenges: Pharmaceutical research is resource-intensive and securing funding especially as a young scientist was a major obstacle.
• Regulatory hurdles: While my formulation does not necessarily require clinical trials at this stage, navigating the regulatory approval process remains a critical step in getting the drug to market.
Despite these challenges, I successfully developed an optimized solvate hydrate of RLX-HCl, which is now patented. This breakthrough proves that African researchers can lead world-class pharmaceutical innovations with the right mindset and determination.
How do you envision your drug formulation impacting the lives of patients suffering from breast cancer, particularly in the context of healthcare accessibility in Uganda and Africa as a whole?
Breast cancer is a growing public health crisis in Uganda and across Africa, yet treatment remains expensive and often inaccessible. Many patients struggle to afford essential drugs due to import costs, supply shortages, and limited local production.
My Raloxifene-based formulation aims to break these barriers by:
• Enhancing drug effectiveness by improving bioavailability, lower doses are required, reducing side effects and costs.
• Reducing treatment costs a more efficient formulation means lower production costs, making it more affordable for Ugandan and African patients.
• Promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing instead of relying on expensive imports, Uganda and other African nations can produce high-quality drugs locally, ensuring consistent supply.
By lowering costs and improving drug effectiveness, this innovation has the potential to save thousands of lives, particularly for women in rural areas who often lack access to advanced healthcare facilities.
Uganda has immense potential to become a leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and my goal is to collaborate with local partners to scale production, ensuring that no patient is left behind due to financial constraints.
With your recent innovation, what does the future hold for healthcare in Africa, especially regarding pharmaceutical research and development?
Africa has historically been a consumer rather than a producer of pharmaceutical innovations, but this is changing. My work and the establishment of EMMACEUTICS is proof that African scientists and entrepreneurs can lead groundbreaking drug discoveries.
The future of healthcare in Africa must focus on:
• Self-sufficiency in drug manufacturing Africa needs to produce its own medicines instead of depending on costly imports.
• Investment in pharmaceutical R&D governments, institutions, and private investors must prioritize local drug discovery and development.
• Public-private partnerships collaborations between universities, research centers, and the pharmaceutical industry can accelerate drug innovation and commercialization.
• Expanding access to high-quality medications by focusing on cost-effective production, we can ensure equitable healthcare for all Africans.
With the right policies and investments, Africa has the potential to transform into a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, and I am committed to playing a key role in this transformation.
This is not just about developing new drugs it’s about building a sustainable pharmaceutical industry that puts African patients first.
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