Africa is strengthening its leadership in public health research as a continent-wide clinical trial aimed at identifying effective treatments for mpox moves into its next phase, backed by new international support. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced that the MOSA study — a multi-country clinical trial launched in 2024 — will continue and expand following additional financial backing from Emergent BioSolutions, in collaboration with the African-led pandemic preparedness platform PANTHER.
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The MOSA initiative is designed as a double-blind, platform-adaptive trial to evaluate potential treatment options for patients diagnosed with mpox, a viral disease for which no dedicated antiviral therapy currently exists. The study is being conducted across several African countries, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo serving as a primary research site.
An independent data and safety monitoring board reviewed initial safety data in December 2025 after the first 50 patients were enrolled and found no safety concerns, recommending that the trial proceed as planned. The positive assessment marks a critical milestone for Africa-led clinical research efforts.
Africa CDC and its partners plan to extend the study to additional countries, including Uganda, as patient enrolment continues. The expansion reflects growing confidence in Africa’s ability to coordinate complex clinical trials and generate high-quality evidence relevant to the continent’s public health needs.
“This study represents a critical step in generating evidence to inform mpox treatment and strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to emerging health threats,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, noting the importance of sustained collaboration between African institutions and global partners.
Mpox remains a significant public health challenge on the continent. Since early 2024, Africa has reported more than 61,000 confirmed cases and nearly 300 deaths across 32 countries, according to Africa CDC data. The continent is affected by multiple mpox clades, underscoring the need for locally driven research and treatment strategies.Health experts say initiatives such as MOSA signal a shift toward greater scientific self-reliance, with Africa increasingly leading research agendas that address its own disease burden while contributing to global health security.
