Moroccan Company Develops Africa’s First Mpox Tests Amid Efforts to Reduce Dependence on Imports

Morocco has achieved a significant milestone with its first domestically produced mpox tests, developed by start-up Moldiag, as an outbreak continues to affect the continent.

Due to the challenges African nations faced in securing testing kits during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials had vowed to reduce reliance on imported medical supplies.

Moldiag began working on mpox tests after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the virus a global emergency in August. According to Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), more than 59,000 mpox cases and 1,164 deaths have been reported across 20 African countries this year.

The WHO has unveiled a plan to provide mpox tests, vaccines, and treatments to vulnerable populations in the world’s poorest regions following criticism of its slow vaccine response. The organisation recommends testing all suspected mpox cases.

However, in remote areas affected by the mpox outbreak, samples often need to be sent to distant laboratories for processing. For instance, most of Congo’s 26 provinces lack testing facilities, and some regions have no access to tests at all. In South Kivu province in eastern Congo, doctors rely on symptoms such as fever and visible lesions to diagnose patients.

“This is a major problem,” said Musole Robert, medical director of the Kavumu Referral Hospital in eastern Congo. “The main issue remains the laboratory, which is not adequately equipped.”

Mpox spreads primarily through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated items such as clothing or bedding. Its symptoms include visible skin lesions that must be swabbed and tested in a lab to confirm the diagnosis. Testing is essential since the symptoms resemble other diseases like chickenpox or measles.

While some Western countries, including the United States, began developing rapid mpox test kits during a 2022 outbreak, those efforts were paused when cases were largely contained. With outbreaks re-emerging in Africa, scientists are now concerned about a potentially more transmissible variant of the virus.

Morocco has reported three mpox cases, with the majority occurring in central Africa. Moldiag’s tests, priced at $5 each, aim to address shortages affordably.

“It’s rather easy to send tests from an African nation to another one rather than waiting for tests to come in from China or Europe,” said Abdeladim Moumen, Moldiag’s founder and chief scientific officer.

Moldiag has begun shipping its tests to countries including Burundi, Uganda, Congo, Senegal, and Nigeria. The startup, part of Morocco’s Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Research, has received funding from the European Commission and the Moroccan government.

It has previously developed genetic tests for COVID-19 and tuberculosis.

In November, Moldiag received approval from the Africa CDC to distribute its mpox tests. However, it has not yet submitted its tests for expedited approval by the WHO, which has approved three mpox tests made in North America, Europe, or Asia, and is reviewing five others.

Yenew Tebeje, the acting director for laboratory diagnostics and systems at Africa CDC, said the organisation established a fast-track approval process for tests like Moldiag’s, as the WHO’s process can take months or years, potentially delaying access to diagnostics.

Historically, international bodies have been criticised for failing to ensure timely availability of medical supplies in Africa during public health emergencies, Tebeje added. Both the WHO and Africa CDC have approved only lab-based mpox tests, highlighting the urgent need for rapid tests that do not require laboratory processing.

Moldiag and other companies are now working on developing rapid tests and seeking regulatory approval.

Moldiag’s $5 price per test aligns with WHO recommendations and demands from health advocates who have criticised the higher costs of other tests. Advocacy groups like Public Citizen have called on manufacturers, such as Cepheid, to reduce prices for their WHO-approved tests, citing analyses that show genetic tests can be produced for less.

Africa-based manufacturing addresses a key goal set by African Union member states after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequalities in global access to medical supplies, including vaccines, tests, and treatments.

In 2022, African leaders resolved to address these disparities, which disproportionately impact the continent’s population of over 1.4 billion people, who face the highest rates of public health emergencies.

Experts increasingly recognise the benefits of producing medical supplies in regions where outbreaks occur, allowing manufacturers to address local challenges more effectively.

“They want African tests for Africa,” Moumen said.

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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