Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai launched subsidiaries in South Africa and Kenya in 2022 to supply drugs for cancer, dementia and other non-communicable diseases. It made a strategic investment in RecoMed, an online booking system for patients of more than 3,000 healthcare providers in South Africa.
The capital will support RecoMed’s digital services for breast cancer patients, a key therapeutic area for Eisai in Africa.
“The average life expectancy is increasing, and there is expected to be a growing demand for cancer and dementia treatments,” Eisai said of its Africa strategy.
Japanese investors are showing increased interest in Africa’s startup scene, including in the healthcare sector. Asia Africa Investment and Consulting, for example, has two Africa-focused healthcare innovation funds, and has backed companies like Nigeria’s Helium Health, which helps healthcare providers digitize and manage health records, and Kenyan syringe manufacturer Revital Healthcare.
