Africa’s First Locally Made Sickle Cell Treatment Brings New Hope in Senegal
Senegal has taken a major public health step in the management of sickle cell disease as local pharmaceutical manufacturer Teranga Pharma produces the first generic hydroxyurea treatment made in Africa, aiming to lower costs and ease supply chain vulnerabilities across sub-Saharan Africa. The medication, branded as Drepaf, was launched in November 2025 and is manufactured at a facility located in Mbao, in the outskirts of Dakar.
- Teranga Pharma manufactures Drepaf locally at a facility in Mbao, Senegal, providing an affordable generic alternative to imported hydroxyurea treatments.
- The medication is available in two distinct dosages: a 500-milligram adult tablet and a 100-milligram pediatric formulation designed for infants starting at nine months of age.
- The regional initiative addresses widespread supply shortages documented in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 80 percent of global sickle cell cases are concentrated.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder. This can provoke violent painful crises, severe anemia, chronic fatigue and numerous hospitalizations. For patients and healthcare systems alike, managing these complications requires consistent access to disease-modifying therapies.
Hydroxyurea is a treatment recommended in the management of sickle cell disease. It allows for a reduction in the frequency of painful crises, hospital admissions, and the use of blood transfusions. It also contributes to reducing the risk of death linked to the disease. Despite its clinical efficacy, consistent access across sub-Saharan Africa has historically been compromised by import reliance and logistical bottlenecks. A study published in the medical journal Blood highlighted that 78 percent of healthcare professionals surveyed across 13 francophone sub-Saharan African countries experienced frequent supply disruptions of hydroxyurea.
To mitigate these availability gaps, Teranga Pharma developed Drepaf with a financial backing of four billion francs CFA, alongside technical partnership support from an Indian firm to scale manufacturing output. The company supplies the adult formulation to pharmacies at a wholesale price, while the pediatric version is also available. Mouhamadou Sow, general manager of Teranga Pharma, stated, “If Africa wants to develop, if Africa wants to have a good health, it would be necessary that the medicines that Africans consume are produced in Africa.”
Expanding local manufacturing also addresses economic burdens for families managing chronic conditions. Mamadou Tahirou, an 18-year-old Senegalese patient living with sickle cell disease since childhood, said, “It hurts a lot and we suffer a lot. And when we don’t have enough means to protect ourselves from the disease, we suffer even more.” Beyond Senegal, Teranga Pharma has established commercial distribution connections with Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, while receiving supply requests from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon. The organization targets broad coverage of sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, reinforcing the critical need for continuous pharmacological availability and early screening protocols.
*Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.*