The successful initial qualification of Bio Usawa's proprietary modular biomanufacturing platform, BioMod™, marks a major step forward in building scalable, high-quality cGMP biologics manufacturing in Africa — designed for impact, sustainability, and patient access.

"It is encouraging to see this level of manufacturing excellence taking root in Africa," says Vince Anicetti, a global biosimilar manufacturing leader and Bio Usawa board member.

Anicetti was among the first 100 employees at Genentech in the 1980s and went on to hold multiple senior leadership roles, including Vice President of Portfolio Management (2003–06) and Vice President of Biologics Quality (2006–11), before retiring after 30 years with the company.

The BioMod™ platform is en route to Rwanda, where it will anchor the region’s first manufacturing plant for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), addressing critical diseases across key therapeutic areas including ophthalmology, cancer, autoimmune conditions, and infectious diseases.