Dei Biopharma founder, Dr. Matthias Magoola, has been honored with the prestigious Pharma Ratna Universe Award 2025, one of India’s most esteemed recognitions in the biopharma and healthcare sectors.
The award was received on Dr. Magoola’s behalf by Ms. Olivia Kemigisa, Head of Human Capital at Dei BioPharma Ltd, during a grand ceremony held on April 20 at the Taj Skyline in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
In a glowing citation preceding the award, the organizers praised Dr. Magoola for his visionary leadership and groundbreaking achievements in the African pharmaceutical sector.
“A man who made the whole of Africa proud with his visionary approach. He started his career from zero, and now he is a billionaire,” the citation read.
“His vision is to make Africa free from malaria and other dreaded diseases. He owns Africa’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech company.”
Pharma Ratna emphasized that the award was not only a personal accolade for Dr. Magoola but a proud moment for Uganda, Africa, and every dreamer building global impact from the ground up.
Dei Biopharma Ltd’s CEO, Mr. Hitesh Upreti, lauded Dr. Magoola’s unwavering vision of making Africa self-reliant in the production of essential medicines, vaccines, and cutting-edge biotech innovation.
“This award is a salute to the spirit of innovation, resilience, and purpose that Dr. Magoola embodies,” Upreti said.
“We are grateful to Pharma Ratna Universe 2025 for recognizing African excellence on a global stage. We are even more committed now—to rise higher, reach farther, and serve better.
Dr. Magoola, a Ugandan scientist and inventor, is the founder of Dei Biopharma Limited, a pharmaceutical and biotech research firm based in Uganda. The company is currently developing a multi-billion-dollar drugs and vaccines manufacturing plant in Matugga, near Kampala.
President Yoweri Museveni, in a meeting with Dr. Magoola on April 13, 2025, pledged government support for licensing several locally produced vaccines for global use. The President also committed to fast-tracking the National Drug and Health Products Act, a key step toward helping Uganda’s National Drug Authority (NDA) achieve WHO Maturity Level 3 accreditation—a requirement for global market access.
Dr. Magoola, through Dei Biopharma, has filed over 100 patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for novel treatments and vaccines for diseases such as cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s, malaria, TB, sickle cell disease, and diabetes.
One of his most significant recent achievements is a patented cancer treatment based on guided RNA technology. Published by the USPTO on February 6, 2025, the innovation uses a specially designed RNA molecule attached to the Cas9 protein to target and disrupt cancer-causing genes, preventing their repair and ultimately destroying the cancer cells.
Unlike traditional therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation, this breakthrough targets only cancerous cells, sparing healthy tissue and minimizing side effects. Inspired by the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology developed by Prof. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Prof. Jennifer Doudna, Dr. Magoola’s approach takes the technology a vital step further.
Additionally, on January 7, 2025, the USPTO accepted Dei Biopharma’s application for the world’s first universal vaccine against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)—a devastating livestock infection. The innovation, titled “Affordable Universal Fusion Vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease Infections”, is expected to save Uganda billions spent annually on vaccine imports.
Dr. Magoola expressed deep gratitude to the Ugandan government and especially President Museveni for continuous support.
“We are grateful for the support from the government, and especially His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, for his unwavering support to Ugandan scientists and in particular to the Dei BioPharma drugs and vaccines manufacturing project,” Dr. Magoola s
“These achievements are for Uganda—and for our dear President—who has always stood up for the scientists in this country.”
As Dei Biopharma advances into new frontiers of medicine, this award marks yet another milestone in Dr. Magoola’s journey to redefine healthcare in Africa and beyond.
