As PANDEMITHON Initiative Signals a New Era of African-Led Healthcare Innovation

During Ghana’s Independence Week, a coalition of scientists from across West Africa achieved a remarkable milestone: designing a working blueprint for a monkeypox vaccine in just three days.

The effort was part of PANDEMITHON, a collaborative initiative aimed at rapidly developing vaccines to address disease outbreaks affecting the African continent. Scientists from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and other countries came together in a hybrid online and in-person workshop hosted at the facilities of Afrivax Ghana Ltd in Accra.

The initiative responds to the urgent spread of monkeypox, also known as Mpox, which has affected thousands across the region. Sierra Leone reported nearly 6,000 confirmed cases last year, while Ghana has recorded more than 1,000 cases in recent weeks.

Rapid Scientific Collaboration
Two teams of scientists worked simultaneously, some physically present in Accra and others joining remotely from across the region. Their mission was to analyze the genetic composition of the virus, identify the components capable of triggering immune protection, and design a vaccine blueprint tailored to strains circulating in West Africa.

Within three days, the teams completed a process that traditionally takes weeks. They identified potential vaccine candidates, designed vaccine antigens, 3D-modeled them with AI, and documented the results ready to progress to the next development stage.

“The monkeypox situation in West Africa has its own clinical patterns,” said Dr. Sulaiman Lakoh. “During our outbreak, most cases appeared in adults rather than children, which differs from patterns seen elsewhere. Using genetic data from our own cases, to design a vaccine that could be specifically tailored to our region is exciting. Experienceing this within a single workshop is unprecedented.”

A Shift in Africa’s Healthcare Innovation Model

Traditionally, vaccine development for diseases affecting Africa has been driven by laboratories in Europe or North America, often taking years before reaching affected populations as commercial products.

The PANDEMITHON model challenges that dynamic by enabling African scientists to develop solutions locally, using regional data and expertise, and with the ultimate goal of producing a commercial product African governments could buy.

“What impressed me most was the speed and quality of the science,” said Dr. Abimbola Adedeji. “These young scientists mastered extremely complex concepts and produced quality work in just a few days. This is what the future of African science looks like.”

Scientists Funding the Vision
Unlike many scientific initiatives, PANDEMITHON launched without major institutional funding. More than 100 scientists, students, and technical experts paid to participate and contribute their time and resources to the project.

“This is not a training exercise,” said Prof. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, which will host the second workshop. “Monkeypox is a serious threat in West Africa. We could not afford to wait for traditional funding cycles. Our scientists, students, and supporters are stepping forward to make this possible.”

The initiative has also launched a public fundraising platform to support continued development and attract future investment and international collaboration.

The Three-Workshop Development Plan
The project is structured as a three-stage progression from concept design to pre-clinical validation.

Workshop 1 — Design Phase (Completed, March 3–4)
Scientists analyzed global viral data, identified potential antigen targets, and used artificial intelligence and 3D modeling to design vaccine candidates. The resulting DNA blueprints were created using AdCEV, a technology recently filed for patent under the ARIPO convention.

Workshop 2 — Manufacturing Phase (March 23–28, Nigeria)
Participants will travel to facilities at UNIZIK to actually produce the antigen designs in vaccine quality eggs supplied by NVI, Vom. The antigens will undergo laboratory analysis including ELISA and chromatography to identify the most promising candidates.

Workshop 3 — Immunogenicity Testing (June 2026)
Selected vaccine candidates will be tested in mice at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to determine whether they produce the desired immune response and this data will be presented to investors and sponsors as a basis for further funding to develop an approved human vaccine.

Why Eggs Remain Central to the Strategy

Most modern vaccine manufacturing requires costly bioreactors and complex infrastructure. However, the PANDEMITHON approach revives a proven platform: vaccine development in chicken eggs, a method used for more than 80 years in producing influenza and yellow fever vaccines.

Using the AdCEV®️ platform, scientists can produce vaccine proteins in eggs rather than expensive industrial facilities, dramatically reducing capital and operational costs.

By connecting biotechnology with existing agricultural supply chains, the approach could make vaccine production both scientifically feasible and economically viable across Africa.

Toward Healthcare Independence
The initiative launched during Ghana’s Ghana Independence Day, marking 69 years of political independence.

“For us, this is also about healthcare independence,” said Dr. Eluemuno Blyden, founder of AfriVax and convener of the PANDEMITHON.  According to him “Africa should not depend entirely on other continents for solutions to African health challenges. With the right tools and collaboration, African scientists can protect our populations and create new economic opportunities for our youth.”

Key Collaborating Institutions
PANDEMITHON is coordinated by Afrivax Ghana Ltd, with participation from multiple research institutions and partners, including: Scientists from Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone
National Veterinary Research Institute,Nigeria, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and 
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Water Research Institute of Ghana, and  Louis Love Nest Foundation, Nigeria.
International collaborators include the UK Vaccine Network Chanjo Hub, Bloom Institute for Public Health, Dyne Immune Institute, Avril Biopharma, Inc., Louis Love Nest Foundation, DAME Media & PR Solutions.

Next Steps;
Over the coming months, scientists will produce laboratory batches of the vaccine candidates, analyze their effectiveness, and collect pre-clinical data required for regulatory pathways toward human trials.
Beyond monkeypox, the egg-based technology platform could be adapted to address diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and other emerging infections.

The initiative’s message is clear: African scientists are no longer waiting for solutions. They are building them.

How to Get Involved
Supporters, organizations, and investors can participate by contributing to the initiative, sponsoring research development, or following updates through PANDEMITHON’s digital platforms.

About PANDEMITHON;
PANDEMITHON is a pan-African vaccine development initiative dedicated to advancing healthcare independence through rapid, collaborative scientific innovation. The program brings together regional and international experts to accelerate vaccine development for diseases affecting Africa and the world.