TLDR:
- Eisai, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, made a strategic investment in RecoMed, a South African health tech venture.
- The investment will support RecoMed’s digital services for breast cancer patients in South Africa.
Japanese investors are showing increased interest in Africa’s startup scene, particularly in the healthcare sector. Eisai has launched subsidiaries in South Africa and Kenya to supply drugs for cancer, dementia, and other non-communicable diseases. The capital from the investment in RecoMed will help to enhance digital services for breast cancer patients, which is a key therapeutic area for Eisai in Africa. Asia Africa Investment and Consulting also have Africa-focused healthcare innovation funds and have backed companies like Nigeria’s Helium Health and Kenyan syringe manufacturer Revital Healthcare. This strategic investment signifies the growing demand for cancer and dementia treatments in Africa as life expectancy increases.
