Senegal has emerged as the first African country to locally manufacture a generic treatment for sickle cell disease, with the production of DREPAF, a hydroxyurea-based medicine, by Senegalese pharmaceutical company Teranga Pharma. The drug is being produced in partnership with Drep.Afrique as part of efforts to improve access to an established treatment for one of Africa’s major inherited blood disorders.
DREPAF is not a new cure for sickle cell disease. Rather, it is a locally produced generic version of hydroxyurea, a disease-modifying medicine that has been used for decades to manage the condition. Hydroxyurea works by increasing the production of fetal haemoglobin, helping to reduce the deformation of red blood cells and, consequently, the frequency of painful crises and other complications. Studies and clinical guidance have linked its use to fewer hospitalisations, reduced need for blood transfusions and lower mortality among patients with sickle cell disease.
The development is particularly significant because Africa carries a large share of the global sickle cell burden, while many patients continue to depend on imported medicines that can be expensive or affected by supply challenges. DREPAF received marketing authorisation in Senegal in April 2025, with commercial distribution beginning in early 2026. The treatment is available in 500mg and 100mg formulations, including a paediatric formulation designed for use in children from about nine months of age.
Teranga Pharma produces DREPAF at its 9,000-square-metre facility in Mbao, near Dakar. Reports indicate that the two formulations are being supplied to pharmacies at wholesale prices of about 3,000 CFA francs and 1,500 CFA francs, respectively, making them significantly cheaper than some imported alternatives. The company is also working to increase production and expand supplies to other African countries, with interest already reported from countries including Burkina Faso, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon.
Beyond the immediate benefits for patients, the production of DREPAF represents a broader push for pharmaceutical self-reliance in Africa. Local manufacturing could help reduce dependence on overseas supplies, limit the impact of import costs and disruptions, and make essential medicines more consistently available. For Senegal and other African countries, the initiative demonstrates how strengthening domestic pharmaceutical capacity can complement wider efforts in sickle cell screening, early diagnosis, treatment and patient education.
