Nigerian manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd is set to produce millions of HIV and malaria test kits at its new plant outside Lagos, aiming to fill the gap left by the US donor agency USAID’s funding cuts.
The plant, in partnership with South Korean pharmaceutical producer SD Biosensor and support from the World Health Organization, will initially produce 147 million kits annually, with the capacity to expand to over 160 million.
According to Codix Bio General Manager Olanrewaju Balaja, the company has enough capacity to meet Nigeria’s demand and can scale up operations to supply West and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally and the fourth-highest burden of HIV, making local production crucial.
The US support to Nigeria, which reached $740 million in 2024, focused on preventing malaria, curbing HIV, and delivering vaccines.
While the impact of the funding cuts is still unclear, the Nigerian government has pledged to raise funds to continue some donor-supported programs. Codix Bio expects the Nigerian government and donor agencies like the Global Fund to purchase test kits from them.
