When Egypt confirmed its first COVID-19 case on 14 February 2020, the country was thrust into a diagnostic crisis. Test kits were scarce, imports delayed, and costs soared. For a nation of over 100 million people, even international aid could not meet the overwhelming demand.
Amid this void, Dr. Salma Tammam, a nanotechnology researcher, saw both an opportunity and an obligation. Within months, she spearheaded the development of a locally made COVID-19 test, bypassing reliance on cold-chain logistics.
“Healthcare facilities were desperately waiting for PCR test kits that could take weeks to arrive, while patients needed results within hours,” she explains.
That breakthrough became the foundation for Reme-D, a biotech startup now leading the charge to make molecular diagnostics affordable and accessible across Africa and the Middle East.
What You Should Know
Supported by a government grant, Tammam pulled together a consortium of hospitals, labs, and robotics firms. Their mission was urgent: deliver a homegrown solution that would allow hospitals to diagnose patients without waiting weeks for imports.
Nine months later, they launched a locally manufactured PCR test, eliminating the need for refrigeration, a game-changing milestone.
“That was the game changer,” she says. “Seeing our work leave the lab and actually help people made me realise we had to do the same for other diseases.”
In 2022, this idea formalised into Reme-D, which now processes over 50,000 tests monthly across 92 hospitals and labs in Egypt, while expanding into Iraq, Sudan, and Kenya.
What This Means
At the core of Reme-D’s innovation lies a molecular fingerprint system that makes PCR kits stable at room temperature. Unlike conventional diagnostics, which require constant refrigeration, Reme-D say its reagents retain potency for months even in regions plagued by unreliable electricity.
This breakthrough matters in Africa, where the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that only half of hospitals have reliable electricity, and in some countries fewer than one-third of facilities enjoy 24-hour power supply.
The result is striking: cost reductions of up to 40 percent, sensitivity above 95 percent, and specificity at 98 percent, with tests tailored to local pathogen strains often overlooked by global manufacturers.
According to the startup, one early adopter has been blood banks, where safety and speed are paramount. Traditionally, blood was first screened using less sensitive immunoassays before confirmation via PCR, a slow two-step process.
For patients, that means safer blood transfusions. For banks, it translates into lower costs and faster turnaround.
To make tests affordable, Reme-D employs tiered pricing models, bulk government partnerships, and localised production, all designed to lower patient costs by 40–60%.
Scaling for the Future
Reme-D says its facility can technically manufacture 12 million tests a month, but packaging constraints limit output to 130,000. Current monthly capacity sits at around 50,000 tests. Expansion plans aim to quadruple production by 2026.
The company, bootstrapped in its early days, has since raised $1 million with backing from the Oman Technology Fund. This capital bridged the transition from lab prototype to commercial scale.
Next, Reme-D plans to expand into Nigeria and Libya, while developing tests for cancer, maternal health, and genetic disorders, fields where diagnostic delays are equally devastating.
For Tammam, the ultimate goal is not only business success but shifting perceptions of African innovation.
“Success means that African patients no longer have to wait weeks for diagnostic results, while the most advanced molecular diagnostics are available within hours at affordable prices,” she says. “I want other African entrepreneurs to see Reme-D as proof that you can build world-class biotech companies from this continent.”
With more than 50% of sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to essential diagnostics, industry experts say her company’s work is more than innovation, it is a lifeline.
Talking Points
Reme-D’s ability to produce PCR kits that remain stable at room temperature directly addresses one of Africa’s biggest healthcare challenges; unreliable electricity and cold-chain dependence.
This single innovation not only reduces waste and cost but also makes molecular diagnostics truly viable in rural and underserved communities, where traditional kits often fail before reaching patients.
At Techparley, we see this as proof that African biotech can move beyond dependency on imports and pioneer solutions optimised for local realities — faster, cheaper, and more resilient.
Yet, the path forward will hinge on overcoming regulatory bottlenecks and shifting investor perceptions that continue to favour Western-made products. Adoption will depend on governments, hospitals, and NGOs recognising the strategic value of building healthcare resilience at home.
As Reme-D scales, strategic partnerships and investment could accelerate its expansion into markets like Nigeria and Libya, positioning the company not just as a startup success but as a catalyst for Africa’s diagnostic independence.
