Moroccan company becomes first African firm to fill orders for mpox tests

Four months ago, when the World Health Organization declared mpox a global emergency, Moroccan biotech firm Moldiag began developing testing kits to detect the virus. It has since emerged as the first African firm to supply mpox testing kits across the continent.

According to Abdeladim Moumen, Moldiag's founder and chief scientific officer, the kits, priced at just $5 each, provide an affordable solution to the region's testing shortages. Testing kits made by European, American and Asian companies cost closer to $20.

“It’s far easier to distribute tests from one African nation to another than to wait for imports from Europe or China,” Moumen explained to the Associated Press.

While the testing kits have not yet received WHO approval, they have been endorsed by the Africa CDC. Yenew Tebeje, acting director of laboratory diagnostics at the Africa CDC, emphasized the need for a faster approval process for diagnostic tools, as delays in WHO certification hinder timely detection and containment efforts.

The distribution of Moldiag's tests aligns with the African Union's post-COVID-19 objective to bolster local production of diagnostics and treatments, ensuring equitable access to healthcare resources during health crises.