The partnership brings global clinical experience and African leadership together to build sustainable biotech capacity 

Kigali, Rwanda and Accra, Ghana — 22 January 2026 — Bio Usawa Inc., a biotechnology company committed to expanding access to advanced and affordable biologics in Africa, today announced a strategic collaboration with Optima Clinical Ltd, a reputable clinical research and pharmacovigilance services organization.

The collaboration brings together Bio Usawa’s focus on biologics development and manufacturing with Optima Clinical’s deep expertise in clinical trials, data management, statistical analysis, site operations, and pharmacovigilance. Together, the two organizations aim to support high-quality clinical development programs in Africa, including studies involving monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), while strengthening local clinical and safety infrastructure.

Both Bio Usawa and Optima Clinical are led by African diaspora co-founders who are deeply invested in returning global experience to the continent and collaborating to strengthen Africa’s biopharmaceutical ecosystem.

“This collaboration reflects our long-term vision of building credible, globally aligned clinical development capacity in Africa,” said Dr. Menghis Bairu, Co-Founder and CEO of Bio Usawa. “By working with experienced African-led partners like Optima Clinical, we are reinforcing our commitment to helping to grow the continent’s biotech ecosystem.”

Through this collaboration, Optima Clinical will support Bio Usawa across key areas including clinical operations, site training and support, data and statistical services, and end-to-end pharmacovigilance. The partnership is designed to ensure that clinical programs conducted in Africa meet international standards while remaining responsive to local regulatory and operational contexts.

“Our mission has always been to demonstrate that world-class clinical research and pharmacovigilance can be led from Africa,” said Dr. Yaw Asare-Aboagye, Co-Founder and CEO of Optima Clinical. “Partnering with Bio Usawa allows us to apply global experience to locally grounded programs, and delivers clear strategic value to both organizations.”

The collaboration also forms part of Bio Usawa’s broader, multi-stakeholder strategy to strengthen Africa’s biotechnology industry through partnerships with African and diaspora-led enterprises, regulators, clinical sites, and academic institutions.

Bio Usawa and Optima Clinical expect this collaboration to support current and future development programs while contributing to long-term capacity building in clinical research and drug safety across Africa.

About Bio Usawa Inc.

Bio Usawa is Africa’s pioneering biotechnology company with a mission to democratize access to life-saving biotherapeutics. The company develops, manufactures, and licenses affordable monoclonal antibodies and biosimilars targeting cancer, diabetes complications, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions.

About Optima Clinical Ltd.

Optima Clinical is a Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting and building clinical trial capacity in low resource areas. The company’s key focus areas include data management, statistical analysis, site operations, training, and global-standard safety monitoring.