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Meeting highlights:
- Access to Innovation & Strengthening the Ecosystem: AstraZeneca’s 2025 priority in Africa is “Innovation & Access”—Access across patient empowerment, Access to Innovation, Capacity and medicines—ensuring innovative medicines reach underserved patients through public-private partnerships to support the market ecosystem with capacity & capability building. Launch of Cancer Care Africa (CCA) in Nov 2022 at COP27, Egypt. CCA aids countries in their fight against cancer by focusing on four pillars of impact:
i. Build capacity and capabilities.
ii. Enhance screening & diagnostics (localization of diagnostics—EGFR, BRCA testing across key Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, improving diagnosis (Dx),reducing Dx cost, and improving timelines to early Dx).
iii. Focus on patient empowerment and enable access to medicines.
iv. Cancer Care Africa represents our commitment to co-creating a stronger cancer care ecosystem in Africa, together with external partners, to enhance access to diagnostics and innovative cancer treatments. Preceptorships and affiliations with key Centers of Excellence (CoEs) across China & Egypt,and supporting access through tri-party agreements with insurance companies,governments, and charity organizations like Axios to expand equitable access. - Expanding& Strengthening R&D and Clinical Trials Operations: South Africa has emerged as one of the major hubs for AstraZeneca’s clinical trials. AstraZeneca is conducting 31 clinical trials in South Africa,with 884 patients enrolled across different therapeutic areas. This represents a 41% growth in trials since 2021. Efforts are expanding into SSA through training, registries, and real-world evidence to prepare new countries for future trials. AstraZeneca (AZ) South Africa emerged among the top 2 in clinical operations with global studies across Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM), Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), and Oncology.
- Healthequity, diversity, and inclusion: Working towards a future where all people have access to sustainable healthcare solutions for life-changing treatment and prevention. To do this, we are focusing on addressing unmet medical needs and health disparities and eliminating discrimination from healthcare delivery. This includes ensuring equity in our workplace, access to our medicines, in our clinical trials, and beyond.
- Pipeline & Disease Focus: The portfolio addresses high-burden diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart failure(HF), chronic kidney diseases, and cancer (especially breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer & hematology), alongside rare diseases such as Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), and Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). Innovation is tailored to local needs with a focus on pricing models, patient support programs, early diagnosis, and treatment access. Launch acceleration, with an ambition of 50+ submissions and close to30+ launches in 2 years across the African Cluster, including indications and New Molecular Entities (NMEs), clearly exhibits our commitment to bringing innovation in Africa.
- Frugal Innovation & AI: The company is leveraging AI-driven diagnostics (e.g., Tricog—implementing an AI-ECG-based algorithm to screen for Left Ventricular Dysfunction; Qure.ai—AI-based software for detecting incidental lung nodules in routine chest X-rays; Medsol—AI ultrasound integrated with clinical exams for breast cancer screening) to enable early detection and cost-effective care. Initiatives like the Catalyst Network support local startups using AI to solve regional healthcare challenges.
- The 10th anniversary of Healthy Heart Africa (HHA): A decade of impact, innovation, and partnership. Through training over 11,700 healthcare workers, activating more than 1,550 healthcare facilities, and screening over 67 million people for elevated blood pressure, we have made hypertension care more accessible, integrated, and sustainable across nine countries. HHA 2.0 launched in Ghana and Uganda.
- Recognition & Leadership: AstraZeneca is now recognized as a top employer in nine African countries, with a 57% female leadership rate.The region grew 20% last year, with a diverse team shaping Africa’s role in the global AZ strategy.
EF: AZ has a strong history of collaborations and initiatives. Which initiatives are you particularly proud of, and what can we expect from AstraZeneca in Africa in 2025, especially with the G20 presidency?
In 2025, AstraZeneca Africa will focus on disease prevention and systems thinking, driven by public-private partnerships. Our new strategic framework aims to strengthen sustainable health systems across Africa, emphasizing equitable access and innovation. To succeed, we must bring governments and private stakeholders together.
Key priorities include:
- Strengthening Health Systems: Building local capacity and capabilities, and shaping policies to ensure sustainable healthcare.
- Frugal Innovations: Localizing diagnostic services to reduce costs and time, such as lung cancer biopsies in Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria.
- Access to Medication: Implementing access models to provide innovative therapies at affordable prices, with successful programs in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya.
- Training and Education: Using the AZ Engage platform to train healthcare professionals and enhance clinical decision support.
Some initiatives we are very proud of include Healthy Heart Africa (HHA), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary—a decade of impact, innovation, and partnership. Through the training of over 11,700 healthcare workers, the activation of more than 1,550 healthcare facilities, and the screening of over 67 million people for elevated blood pressure, we have made hypertension care more accessible, integrated, and sustainable across nine countries. HHA has played a pivotal role in integrating hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) care into primary healthcare systems, ensuring that millions receive timely and coordinated support.
The discussions today have underscored that tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) requires collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment. The upcoming 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs presents an opportunity to reinforce NCDs as a global health priority, and HHA’s decade-long journey is a testament to the progress that can be achieved through strategic partnerships.
Additionally, Cancer Care Africa (CCA) represents our commitment to co-creating a stronger cancer care ecosystem in Africa, together with external partners, to enhance access to diagnostics and innovative cancer treatments. CCA aids countries in their fight against cancer by focusing on four pillars of impact: building capacity and capabilities, enhancing screening and diagnostics, focusing on patient empowerment, and enabling access to medicines. Utilizing AI technology for early diagnosis is also essential and through the establishment of the A. Catalyst Health Innovation Hubs, AstraZeneca, is constructing a network of physical locations and virtual partnerships that will work to solve, scale, and showcase innovative and holistic health solutions in Africa—a key step forward in our commitment to delivering truly patient-centric disease management. Through the Innovation Hub, we partner and support companies that are developing innovative solutions, such as Medsol, Trocog, and Qure AI, or that are working to stimulate innovation, like the Royal Academy of Engineering and Fuel Africa, with more partnerships to come.
Our goal is to build a resilient, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem in Africa, emphasizing equity and progress.
EF: How does AstraZeneca contribute to clinical research innovation in South Africa?
DA: AstraZeneca is a leader in clinical research innovation in South Africa, focusing on major health concerns like resistant hypertension, heart failure, CKD, and various cancers. We are expanding our efforts into Sub-Saharan Africa through training, registries, and real-world evidence studies, leveraging AI to build electronic health records. Once these systems are in place, we will recruit patients for registries and initiate real-world evidence studies, preparing new countries for future trials.
Currently, AstraZeneca ranks second in the pharmaceutical sector for the number of active clinical trials in South Africa, with 30 ongoing trials across cardiovascular, respiratory, and oncology diseases. This represents a 94% growth since 2021, with an ambition to underscore our commitment to advancing critical research in the future.
EF: Can you discuss some areas of your global pipeline that excite you or any upcoming treatments that will significantly impact the region you manage?
DA: The burden of disease in Africa presents significant challenges. NCDs are the second most common cause of mortality and morbidity, accounting for almost 35% of deaths, yet they often go unaddressed. (COPD), (CKD), respiratory disease and asthma pose major challenges of late or undiagnosed mistreatment.
Another growing challenge and burden within NCDs is Cancer, which is now the continent's fifth leading cause of death, with more than 1.1 million new cases in 2024, along with a significant portion attributed to breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers. Even with these stark figures, quality cancer care remains inaccessible to many Africans due to inadequate diagnostic facilities, low patient awareness, lack of training for healthcare providers, and difficulties accessing preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic resources.
Both conditions and chronic diseases generally have substantial unmet needs, and late diagnosis leads to high morbidity, and their treatment consumes significant healthcare resources.
We have been working relentlessly and are committed to bringing an innovative portfolio relating to Non-Communicable Diseases, including CKS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Heart Failure, Oncology & Rare Diseases like Neurofibromatosis (NFI), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) & Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (Ahus).
Building on our strong equity and support from the Scientific community, AZ is ranked among the top three R&I and No.1 in Oncology pharma in SSA. We are expanding our pipeline with new products targeting COPD and Asthma. In Africa, breast, prostate, and cervical cancers have the highest prevalence and incidence rates. Although lung cancer is less common, it coincides with a significant incidence of tuberculosis. This indicates that lung cancer may also be present, but we lack early diagnoses and comprehensive registries or statistics to track these cases effectively.
We are localizing EGFR testing, building real-world evidence, creating a registry for lung cancer, and screening to better understand the prevalence and incidence of lung cancer. Our pipeline is designed to support the development of products for breast, prostate, and lung cancer. The burden of respiratory and oncology aligns well with our portfolio and pipeline. Additionally, we are addressing rare diseases in South Africa. It's important to note that rare diseases are not so rare; one in 15 Africans is affected by a desert disease. There are nearly fifteen hundred rare diseases. Innovation in Rare Diseases comes with a cost. To address the high unmet need and access to medicine challenges, we are working with partners, funders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and patient advocacy groups (PAGs) to find innovative access models. Implementation of Patient Support (PSP) and Patient Assistance Programs(PAP) will be more important in common times to ensure equitable access to innovation for deserving patients. We must shift our mentality from "saving pennies to spending pounds, as early diagnosis and treatment will surely prevent or mitigate the hospitalization costs for chronic diseases.
Our diverse portfolio focuses on Rare diseases, Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal, Metabolic disorders, and respiratory & immunology diseases. Bringing a prioritized portfolio and innovation in Africa is aligned with the burden of disease, investment in empowering the healthcare ecosystem, and support of PSPs/PAP for access. In Africa, we are supporting the shift towards building more resilient, sustainable, and value-based healthcare systems that can better withstand future shocks and address unmet needs such as a growing and ageing population and the increase of chronic illness and non-communicable diseases.
EF: How receptive is the region to preparing for next-generation treatments?
DA: At AstraZeneca, we harness data and technology to maximise time for the discovery and delivery of potential new medicines. Data science and artificial intelligence (AI) are embedded across our R&D to enable our scientists to push the boundaries of science to deliver potentially life-changing medicines.
We are already implementing AI across the business. In drug discovery, AI is helping to identify targets, design molecules, and repurpose drugs. In clinical trials, we are using it to predict efficacy, speed up recruitment, and monitor safety. In developing personalized medicine, AI is being used to tailor treatments, optimize dosing, and predict risks. Across our global manufacturing and supply chain, we use AI to automate production, prevent failures, and optimize logistics.
There are two key aspects to consider: physicians and society. Physicians possess valuable knowledge and often express excitement about new treatments and therapies. However, this enthusiasm is tempered by a lack of access to these treatments. While excitement and anticipation exist, they do not necessarily translate into access for people in Africa, which is a primary concern.
The main challenge is ensuring patients can access necessary treatments. Private partnerships can help by forming advisory boards to introduce innovative products and address issues on a country-by-country basis. Patients who can afford treatments should not have to travel to other countries to obtain them, which is currently happening.
Many patients travel to India, Europe, or South Africa for treatments. Fair pricing for the middle-income tier can be achieved through public-private partnerships that provide financial assistance based on out-of-pocket costs and insurance coverage. NGOs, charities, and national cancer institutions can support the remaining costs. While expanding access to the public sector is crucial, it remains a significant challenge.
We are pushing the boundaries of science to tackle major public health challenges, including the rising burden of disease and health inequities. Africa is key in this transition to a more sustainable and equitable future, and we are working towards a future where patients have access to life-changing treatments and prevention.
EF: Do you want to share any final message or accomplishment you are proud of achieving?
For us at AstraZeneca, we work hard to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, their background, or their economic circumstances, has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.
With one of the broadest portfolios and global footprints in our industry, we embed equity across everything we do—from our science and R&D, to how we deliver care, and how we engage with communities. And also from within.
We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of science to tackle the world's biggest public health challenges, while also fostering AstraZeneca as a great place to work and nurturing an inclusive and high-performing culture that makes a difference in patients’ lives every day. We are proud to have been certified as the Best Place to Work in nine countries this year and recognized as the Best Employer in South Africa and Kenya for four consecutive years.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in our African leadership team, which is 57% female, and our goal is to achieve gender parity across all levels by 2025. We are also bringing talent from India, Egypt, the Gulf, Turkey, and Jordan to support our growth and co-creation platform, reinforcing the "for Africa, by Africa" ethos.
Our business has grown by 20% through innovation and health equity initiatives, and we aim to continue this momentum. I am proud of what we have built and look forward to even more exciting years ahead.
“Together, we can shape a future where every individual has access to the care they need to live healthier, longer lives. Thank you.”
