Michael Fairbanks, CEO of Akagera Medicines: Rwanda’s $75M Gamble to Build a $2B Pharma Company

For decades, Africa has depended on imported medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect its people. But what happens when a country decides to manufacture its own? In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, economic strategist Michael Fairbanks explains the ambitious vision behind Akagera Medicines, a Rwanda-linked biotech company developing treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Backed by Rwanda’s national pension fund, this project raises difficult questions about pharmaceutical sovereignty, global health inequality, African industrial policy, and the risks of building a biotech industry from scratch. Can Africa truly compete with global pharmaceutical giants? And what happens if the bet fails? This conversation explores the intersection of science, capital, geopolitics, and the future of African healthcare innovation.Sponsors:Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.comProduced by LF Media