Codix Pharma has launched Codix Bio, its second in-vitro diagnostics manufacturing facility, focusing on the local production of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Until now, virtually all RDT kits used in Africa were imported from Europe, North America, or Asia—leaving the continent vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, inflated costs, and delays in access to diagnostic tools.

“This is a major breakthrough, not just for us at Codix, but for the country and continent,” said a company executive. “It’s about what is possible when innovation meets intention,” Mary Ogangwu, chief Operating officer of Codix Bio, said at a press briefing in Lagos.

Access to timely and accurate diagnostics remains a challenge in Nigeria’s fight against communicable diseases. Delays or lack of access to simple tests often result in misdiagnosis, untreated infections, and increased mortality—especially among the vulnerable.

Ogangwu said these kits are designed for fast, reliable, and affordable testing, helping frontline health workers detect diseases early and initiate treatments without delay.

The announcement comes on the heels of strategic reforms to boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing. Initiatives such as Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and a Presidential Executive Order exempting pharmaceutical equipment from tariffs have created an enabling environment for companies as Codix to thrive.

These policies align with national targets to increase local pharmaceutical production capacity to 70 per cent of domestic demand by 2030 and to capture at least 15 per cent of Africa’s pharma market share.

By localising RDT production, the facility contributes to Africa’s broader agenda of health self-reliance and aligns with World Health Organisation’s Local Production Forum, which advocates sustainable manufacturing systems to withstand global health shocks.

“We are no longer just recipients of aid or consumers of foreign technology. Codix Bio proves that African solutions can come from African soil,” she said.

The importance of diagnostics cannot be overstated. From identifying infections early to guiding treatment and tracking disease outbreaks, RDTs are the bedrock of effective healthcare delivery. Codix Bio’s focus on diseases like malaria and HIV, which still account for a large proportion of Nigeria’s disease burden, will enable millions of Nigerians—especially in rural and underserved areas—to access simple but essential diagnostic tools. “This facility will drastically reduce stockouts, lower testing costs, and improve healthcare outcomes for everyone, regardless of where they live,” Ogangwu said.