AFRICA:

The African continent is made up of over 1.34-billion people and it is anticipated this will rise to at least 2-billion people by 2038 and 2.5-billion by 2050. It makes up over 17% of the global population, has a diverse population and bears the greatest disease burden in the world (at around 25%).

The African continent can provide many of the conditions optimal for carrying out clinical trials. Multiple diseases – specifically those defined as tropical and neglected – are endemic to Africa. Despite this, the African continent contributes only a tiny proportion of the total number of clinical trials globally, despite its clinical benefits.

It's time for pharma companies to realise the opportunity waiting in Africa, a prime and untapped destination for clients conducting clinical trials.

Africa offers effective, innovative, and cost-effective ways to execute clinical trials. Not only is it home to the highest genetic diversity of humans on the planet, but it is filled with potential participants who are eager to get medical care and be a part of trials. Clients can conduct comparative research within a diverse participant population, often enrolling patients who have never experienced any treatment for their disease.

Many have not been previously exposed to any kind of pharmaceutical drugs.

There is an opportunity for clients to positively participate and firmly entrench themselves in Africa by partnering with a pharmaceutical research company that can guide, support and oversee their trial from recruitment to completion.

Merclinco, based in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya, is the only site to receive the SCRS SPRIA Award twice in 2015 and 2019. This international award is given to sites for their innovative methods of recruitment. We offer a wide range of clinical trial services to sponsors, CROs and SMOs and are the comprehensive solution to developing, managing and maintaining a variety of clinical trials..

After our decades of experience running trials in Africa, we understand the needs of the many international clients we have worked with, such as the five examples that follow.

Here is how working in Africa can help you address these needs:

1. You need a high disease burden

Many people suffer from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers, with many going untreated.

Multiple trials can be conducted in Africa because we have the disease burden similar to the rest of the world.

Research indicates that sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see one of the largest increases in mortality due to non-communicable diseases globally. In addition, Africa has a large infectious disease burden, with HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, acute respiratory infections and diarrheal disease causing a high mortality rate.

Africa has a wide range of diseases and within each disease, there is a greater spectrum of that disease in much higher numbers.

2. You want to access larger patient pools

Africa has a very willing pool! There is an urgent need for clinical trials and there are participants who are eager to have access to medical assistance. There are a high number of potential participants requesting to join clinical trials as an option for healthcare.

Africa has access to a large pool of people who need healthcare, a problem not experienced as severely by the West.

In addition, Africa does not face the challenges experienced in Europe and the USA where there is extensive participant recycling. The large group of participants we have access to eliminate the need to use the same participants for multiple trials.

3. You need to sponsor who has innovative ways to recruit participants

We all know that without participants you don't have a trial, and you don't have data on your drug. Africa has innovative ways to recruit participants for clinical trials ensuring that the correct people are sourced for your particular trial.

Africa is home to award-winning sites that have been recognised as being amongst the most innovative in the world when it comes to recruiting participants for trials as well as producing outstanding quality data

Africa is very community-oriented and by partnering with Community Advisory Boards (CABS) and tribal leaders, and educating medical practitioners, church leaders and traditional healers about the benefits of clinical trials, there is buy-in from people who may have once steered away from Western medicine. Community advisors and leaders have become the influencers.

4. You need a diverse pool of participants

In the West and in Europe, there is often a reluctance of certain racial demographics to take part in clinical trials. This is not a concern in Africa.

Africa offers the diversity you are looking for in an effective clinical trial.

5. You need to work cost-effectively

Africa's research landscape is beginning to change because of the increase in economic development across the continent. Some of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are located in East Africa: countries such as Kenya. The disposable income has grown exponentially amongst the upcoming middle class in these countries. This has led to an ever-increasing demand for branded goods - food and white goods - as well as demand for private education and private healthcare demanding the latest treatment modalities including medication. Technologically, Africa is well-connected and offers similar comforts as developed countries at a fraction of the price.

The enormous economic advantages due to the comparatively low cost of doing business are further impetus for performing clinical trials in Africa.

High quality work can be produced at a lower cost. The regulatory environment has improved and regulatory timeframes have been reduced. As the old saying goes, “time is money” – studies can be recruited, started and approved in a shorter period of time, adding to the cost-saving.

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