LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PRACTICES IN THE LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
WEGENE LEMA LACHORE1, MENGESHA DAGNE BELACHEW2, SHABU FILATE SAKA3, ASCHENAKI ASSEFA4, TESFA MAREW WALLELIGN5*
- Department of Innovation and Technology Transfer Grand Challenges, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Department Environment Researcher, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Department Pharmaceutical and Biological Product Development Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Department Pharmaceutical Industry Development Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 17(3): 269-276 ; 2025
ABSTRACT
Globally, the pharmaceutical industry has indispensable contribution in public health and sustainable
economic growth. However, its technological complexity and finance-intensive nature limited most
developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa from keeping pace and get benefited
from the sector. In Ethiopia, despite its over six decades operation, the local pharmaceutical
manufacturing sector could not apparently contribute in the national healthcare, research capacity,
technology transfer and overall economic growth. This study explored the state of R&D and
technology transfer practices by the local pharmaceutical industry. A descriptive cross-sectional
study involving purposively selected technical experts from all 15 actively operating local
pharmaceutical companies was conducted between 15 December 2024 and 15 January 2025. Data
were collected with structured survey questionnaire and observational checklist. Data were entered
into Epi-Data version 4.7 and analysed using SPSS version 25. The study participants disclosed
varied level of engagement in technology transfer but only one-third (33.3%) maintained R&D units
for conventional formulation development. Conversely, the experts indicated strong R&D and
technology transfer understanding; several of them mentioned engagement in practical
implementations. Technical capacity limitations, exclusion of R&D investment from regular
government support schemes, and joint venture arrangements by considerable number companies
that have foreign affiliates for R&D and technology transfer, and financial constraints were reported
major challenges. Extensive reliance on foreign partnerships for technology transfer was found to
significantly hamper their competitiveness and capacity utilization. The technical experts appreciated
the positive impact of technology transfer on innovation, quality management, productivity and
regulatory compliance. Yet, most companies lacked resources and technical expertise for effective
research and technology transfer which is necessary for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
R&D and technology transfer practices in the local pharmaceutical companies were found to be weak
and restricted. Addressing critical bottlenecks and leveraging opportunities requires strategic
interventions through a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure sustainable growth and
competitiveness of the sector.
Keywords: Pharmaceutical manufacturing, Research and Development, technology transfer,
intellectual property rights, Ethiopia.
Email of correspondence:tesfa.marew@aau.edu.et
https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2025.3.3 ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)