Shionogi Forms Comprehensive Partnership to Strengthen Antimicrobial Stewardship in Kenya
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; “Shionogi”) is pleased to announce that it has signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Nagasaki University (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki), Saraya Co., Ltd. (Osaka City, Osaka), and Connect Afya Inc. (Tatsuno City, Hyogo). This collaboration aims to support the establishment and strengthening of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) systems in healthcare institutions across the Republic of Kenya as of May 9.
Each of these four partners brings distinct expertise to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of today’s most critical public health threats. Shionogi focuses on the development and supply of antimicrobials, Nagasaki University contributes through academic research in infectious diseases, Saraya specializes in infection control, and Connect Afya offers laboratory support. United by a shared commitment to bolstering AMR countermeasures in Kenya, the parties have formalized their joint efforts through this agreement, with ambitions to extend similar healthcare initiatives to other countries and regions across Africa.
Under the agreement, the partners will collaborate on the following key initiatives:
- Joint Research on AMR in Kenya
Conducting surveys and research projects within Kenyan healthcare institutions to better understand and address AMR challenges. - International Collaboration on AMR Measures
Working closely with the Kenyan government, healthcare institutions, and Shionogi’s global partners, including the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), to enhance AMR initiatives. - Human Resource Development
Training Kenyan healthcare professionals in infection control and the appropriate use of antimicrobials, helping to cultivate the next generation of AMR leaders. - Other Collaborative AMR Activities
Engaging in additional joint activities that support comprehensive AMR countermeasures.
Shionogi has identified “Improving access to healthcare” as one of its core material issues and is actively advancing collaborative efforts alongside international partners. By improving access to AMR treatments and supporting maternal and child health initiatives in Africa, Shionogi contributes to building a more sustainable society. As a global leader in the field of infectious diseases, Shionogi remains dedicated to tackling critical public health challenges, including AMR, COVID-19, and the three major infectious diseases.
About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the phenomenon where bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics, is one of the most significant global public health threats facing humanity and requires urgent action. AMR has been referred to as a “silent pandemic,” and without countermeasures, it is projected to result in over 10 million deaths annually by 20502-4.
About Nagasaki University:
With a legacy rooted in the introduction of Western medicine through Nagasaki during the Edo Period, Nagasaki University has been engaged in infectious disease research since 1942. Today, it becomes one of Japan’s leading centers for infectious disease research and education. The Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control Education Center at Nagasaki University Hospital, which plays a key role in this Agreement, owns and operates Japan’s designated isolation beds for patients with Class I infectious diseases such as viral hemorrhagic fever. This department and center actively contributes to infection control and care of the patients both within and beyond the hospital, including previous support in hospitals in Liberia, West Africa, where outbreak of Ebola diseases occurred.
About Saraya Co., Ltd.:
Saraya is committed to building a more prosperous and productive global society through its three core pillars of business: hygiene, the environment, and health. Since its founding in 1952, the company has been developing and providing a wide range of products and services, including various detergents, disinfectants, and food items,
for both household and professional use. In Africa, Saraya began local production and sales of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in Uganda in 2014. In addition to supplying products to Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other countries, the company also contributes to the capacity building of infection control professionals in healthcare settings through collaborations with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and local ministries of health.
About Connect Afya Inc.:
Founded in 2018 and operating in Kenya as CA MEDLYNKS, Connect Afya Ltd. pursues one clear mandate—“Deliver Healthcare When and Where Necessary.” Its ISO 15189- and KENAS-accredited reference laboratory in Nairobi spans routine chemistry, hematology, and microbiology through next-generation sequencing on the latest Illumina systems and advanced immunohistochemistry for precision oncology. Building on this platform, the company aims to launch antimicrobial-resistance monitoring to support stewardship programs nationwide. Partnerships with a diverse group of Japanese healthcare and life-science firms have already transferred critical technologies and trained more than 100 Kenyan scientists, positioning Connect Afya to narrow Africa’s diagnostic gap.
