In most major corporations globally, you can find at least one member of the African diaspora who holds a top leadership position with the power to influence strategic decisions. Yet, very few care challenging the misconception that Africa is not a place to invest.

Menghis Bairu, MD is one of those rare leaders who is rewriting the script.

A physician turned serial entrepreneur, Dr. Menghis is the co-founder and CEO of Bio Usawa, a biotech company working to correct a longstanding injustice that is the lack of access to life-saving monoclonal antibody therapies in Africa. The medicines, which are a standard of care in developed economies for conditions like cancer, remain out of reach for nearly all Africans due to their exorbitant cost.

Bio Usawa plans to make these therapies available at just 20% of current prices initially, with a long-term goal of 10%. #Rwanda will be home to Bio Usawa’s first manufacturing plant, set to be operational by early 2027. The reason? Rwanda’s strategic vision and efficiency in supporting infrastructure development.

As Dr. Menghis put it in a recent interview with Davis Higiro of The New Times (Rwanda): “Unlike in many places, here (Rwanda) you can receive responses within hours or just a few days.”

I have had the privilege of meeting many of Bio Usawa’s A-Team members, including both co-founders, and I am rooting for them every step of the way. The synergy between Rwanda’s forward-thinking leadership and Bio Usawa’s strategic vision & expertise in biopharmaceuticals is inspiring to witness.

This project sends shivers down my spine when I think of its immense impact. I can only imagine the dedication and long nights behind the scenes as Menghis and his team race to bring this vision to life.

Patrick Lukulay, Ph.D., Dr. Richard Chin, Eric Karikari Boateng, Elise Brownell, PhD, John Hautman, Esq., Raj Shankar Ghosh, Fidel Rubagumya ,M.D, MMed, MPH, PhD (c), and everyone involved, thank you and we are cheering on you.

WATCH Dr. Menghis’ interview with The New Times here: https://lnkd.in/d4dCqnVh