July 01, 2025 Kigali, Rwanda and San Francisco and Zug, Switzerland

Bio Usawa Biotechnology Ltd. (Bio Usawa) and Bioeq AG today announced a groundbreaking agreement that will bring a life-changing biosimilar medicine—ranibizumab, used to treat serious retinal diseases—within reach for millions across Sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership grants Bio Usawa exclusive rights to register and commercialize Bioeq’s ranibizumab biosimilar under the brand name BioUcenta™, marking a critical step forward in democratizing access to essential biologic therapies across the region.

“By making ranibizumab accessible in Sub-Saharan Africa, we are empowering doctors to save the vision of millions, particularly those suffering complications from diabetes—a disease that is quietly but rapidly becoming one of Africa’s greatest health threats,” said Dr. Menghis Bairu, MD, Co-founder, President and CEO of Bio Usawa.

"Our partnership with Bio Usawa is core to our commitment to expanding global access to essential medicines," said Martin Huber, Managing Director of Bioeq AG. "Together, we are breaking down the barriers that have denied effective treatment for serious retinal diseases to patients across Sub-Saharan Africa for too long. Bringing a high-quality, affordable ranibizumab biosimilar to this region is a significant step towards health justice."

About Bio Usawa, Inc. (BUI)

Bio Usawa has a singular mission: to manufacture and commercialize high-quality, effective and affordable biosimilars for patients in Africa. We are applying our 100+ years of combined experience in the industry in partnership with governments, agencies, educators and health professionals to make transformative biomedicines in Africa, by Africans, for Africans and beyond. 

Click here to learn more about our company's recent successes and download our new White Paper on Regulatory Approaches to Biosimilars in Africa.

About Bioeq AG

Bioeq AG is a Swiss biopharmaceutical joint venture between Polpharma Biologics Group and Formycon AG. Bioeq develops and licenses biosimilars for global markets, combining innovation and quality to improve patient access to vital therapies. Learn more at www.bioeq.ch.