Building the Momentum for A Stronger Pharmaceutical System in Africa.

Despite impressive progress, nearly two billion people worldwide have no access to essential medicines. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed Africa's vulnerability due to its reliance on imports for most vaccines, medicines, and other health product needs. The vaccine manufacturing is complex and requires massive financial investments, with global, regional, and national regulatory structures introducing consistent and urgent reforms to assure the quality and safety of medicines. In 2020, there were approximately 600 pharmaceutical manufacturers in Africa, 80% of which were concentrated in eight countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Only 4 countries had more than 50 manufacturers, while 22 countries had no local production. Out of the 600, around 25% were multinational companies. Africa is equally affected by modest scaled capacities substantially engaging in packaging and labelling, and occasionally fill and finish steps, facing criticalities in terms of solvent domestic markets. This article discusses the challenges in the development of a local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa and reflects on the importance of the momentum for strengthening the local medical production capacity in the continent as a critical opportunity for advancing universal health coverage (UHC).

Insertion of germanium atoms in high-nuclearity rhodium carbonyl compounds: synthesis, characterization and preliminary biological activity of the heterometallic [Rh13Ge(CO)25]3-, [Rh14Ge2(CO)30]2- and [Rh12Ge(CO)27]4- clusters.

The reaction of the [Rh7(CO)16]3- cluster anion with Ge2+ salts, in different stoichiometric ratios and under different atmospheres, leads to the formation of new heterometallic Rh-Ge clusters, representing the first known examples of Rh carbonyl compounds containing interstitial germanium atoms. More specifically, under N2 the reaction progressively affords the new [Rh13Ge(CO)25]3- and [Rh14Ge2(CO)30]2- clusters in good yields, with the Ge atoms located in cubic and square-anti-prismatic cavities, respectively. However, under a CO atmosphere, the [Rh13Ge(CO)25]3- derivative undergoes a significant structural and chemical rearrangement giving the new compound, [Rh12Ge(CO)27]4-, where Ge is hosted in an icosahedral metal cage. All species have been characterized by IR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry, and their structures have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, preliminary biological tests on the [Rh13Ge(CO)25]3- and [Rh14Ge2(CO)30]2- clusters show that they are cytotoxic to various cell lines.