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12.05.2026
Clinical Trial Logistics in Africa: $1.68 Billion Market Growth
The African clinical trials market, valued at $0.91 billion in 2023, is projected to reach $1.68 billion by 2032 – but success requires understanding complex logistics realities beyond the promising statistics.
The clinical trials landscape in Africa is evolving rapidly, driven by growing investment, improving regulatory frameworks, and an increasingly affluent middle class with access to healthcare. But beneath the optimistic headlines lies a complex web of logistical, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges that require specialized expertise to navigate successfully.
"Africa is a continent of 54 countries spanning three times the size of Europe, with almost 1.5 billion people," explains Mark Woolf, COREX COO, who brings extensive experience in African pharmaceutical logistics. "The potential is enormous, but companies need to understand that this isn't a single market – it's dozens of distinct regulatory environments, each with unique requirements."
Recent participation at TCIS Africa 2026 in Pretoria reinforced this potential."Based on discussions throughout the conference, there's a strong shift toward Africa-led clinical research with locally driven partnerships," notes Kayla van den Bergh, COREX Business Development Manager, who represented the company at the event. "The conversation has moved from participation to leadership, with focus on sustainable ecosystem development."
Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have approached African markets by going direct to research sites – engaging directly with universities and clinical investigators. While this approach works for commercial products, clinical trials face much stricter regulatory requirements.
This creates a cascade of operational challenges. Sponsors must prepay all duties and fees before shipments arrive, rather than working through established payment terms. Universities lack the ISO qualifications and business licensing required for pharmaceutical logistics operations. Most critically, they cannot close the regulatory loop – providing documentation to ministries of health showing complete product accountability from import through destruction.
The solution lies in establishing proper pharmaceutical logistics infrastructure. "South Africa works as a continental hub because it has developed regulatory frameworks, established logistics networks, and can export to virtually all African nations when running phase one or two studies," notes Mark Woolf.
Africa's regulatory landscape varies significantly by region. South Africa leads with the most advanced framework, while East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda increasingly follow European and US standards. West African nations including Nigeria offer large populations but more complex regulatory environments. "In countries like Kenya and Rwanda, you're never more than 10 minutes away from a doctor," explains Mak Woolf. "Many have trained in France, UK, Ireland, Germany, or the US, then returned home with equivalent qualifications to international standards."
COREX's African strategy addresses multiple pain points simultaneously. The company can provide continental IOR (Importer of Record) services across 19 African countries through established partnerships. Their South African operation offers not just storage and distribution, but comprehensive site support including equipment provision, ultra-cold storage capabilities, and complete product lifecycle management.
"The operational costs are manageable because we're entering an established facility that doesn't require extensive modification," notes Mark. "We can be operational in months, not years, with proper licensing, qualified staff, and legal entity structure."
Both COREX perspectives emphasize the importance of sustainable, equitable partnerships rather than traditional vendor relationships. "Capacity building emerged as a major theme – investing in skilled people, systems, infrastructure, and partnerships that support long-term clinical research growth," observes Kayla van den Bergh.
The approach recognizes that successful African clinical trials require more than just logistics – they need partners who understand local regulations, cultural nuances, and operational realities while maintaining international quality standards.
"Investment in Africa is safer now than in many other regions," concludes Mark Woolf. "Unlike Asia, where large pharma dominates, Africa offers opportunities for companies willing to build proper infrastructure and sustainable partnerships."
As clinical trials in Africa continue expanding toward the projected $1.68 billion market by 2032, success will depend on companies that understand the difference between participation and partnership – and have the operational expertise to deliver on both.
Clinical Trial Supply Chain Infrastructure: Beyond Market Size
The clinical trials landscape in Africa is evolving rapidly, driven by growing investment, improving regulatory frameworks, and an increasingly affluent middle class with access to healthcare. But beneath the optimistic headlines lies a complex web of logistical, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges that require specialized expertise to navigate successfully.
"Africa is a continent of 54 countries spanning three times the size of Europe, with almost 1.5 billion people," explains Mark Woolf, COREX COO, who brings extensive experience in African pharmaceutical logistics. "The potential is enormous, but companies need to understand that this isn't a single market – it's dozens of distinct regulatory environments, each with unique requirements."
Recent participation at TCIS Africa 2026 in Pretoria reinforced this potential."Based on discussions throughout the conference, there's a strong shift toward Africa-led clinical research with locally driven partnerships," notes Kayla van den Bergh, COREX Business Development Manager, who represented the company at the event. "The conversation has moved from participation to leadership, with focus on sustainable ecosystem development."
Beyond Direct-to-Site: The Infrastructure Reality
Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have approached African markets by going direct to research sites – engaging directly with universities and clinical investigators. While this approach works for commercial products, clinical trials face much stricter regulatory requirements.
This creates a cascade of operational challenges. Sponsors must prepay all duties and fees before shipments arrive, rather than working through established payment terms. Universities lack the ISO qualifications and business licensing required for pharmaceutical logistics operations. Most critically, they cannot close the regulatory loop – providing documentation to ministries of health showing complete product accountability from import through destruction.South Africa Clinical Trial Hub Strategy: Continental Distribution
The solution lies in establishing proper pharmaceutical logistics infrastructure. "South Africa works as a continental hub because it has developed regulatory frameworks, established logistics networks, and can export to virtually all African nations when running phase one or two studies," notes Mark Woolf.
Clinical Research Infrastructure Africa: Regional Regulatory Development
Africa's regulatory landscape varies significantly by region. South Africa leads with the most advanced framework, while East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda increasingly follow European and US standards. West African nations including Nigeria offer large populations but more complex regulatory environments. "In countries like Kenya and Rwanda, you're never more than 10 minutes away from a doctor," explains Mak Woolf. "Many have trained in France, UK, Ireland, Germany, or the US, then returned home with equivalent qualifications to international standards."
Temperature-Controlled Logistics Africa: COREX's Comprehensive Approach
COREX's African strategy addresses multiple pain points simultaneously. The company can provide continental IOR (Importer of Record) services across 19 African countries through established partnerships. Their South African operation offers not just storage and distribution, but comprehensive site support including equipment provision, ultra-cold storage capabilities, and complete product lifecycle management.
"The operational costs are manageable because we're entering an established facility that doesn't require extensive modification," notes Mark. "We can be operational in months, not years, with proper licensing, qualified staff, and legal entity structure."
Clinical Trial Partnerships Africa: Building Sustainable Relationships
Both COREX perspectives emphasize the importance of sustainable, equitable partnerships rather than traditional vendor relationships. "Capacity building emerged as a major theme – investing in skilled people, systems, infrastructure, and partnerships that support long-term clinical research growth," observes Kayla van den Bergh.
The approach recognizes that successful African clinical trials require more than just logistics – they need partners who understand local regulations, cultural nuances, and operational realities while maintaining international quality standards.
"Investment in Africa is safer now than in many other regions," concludes Mark Woolf. "Unlike Asia, where large pharma dominates, Africa offers opportunities for companies willing to build proper infrastructure and sustainable partnerships."
As clinical trials in Africa continue expanding toward the projected $1.68 billion market by 2032, success will depend on companies that understand the difference between participation and partnership – and have the operational expertise to deliver on both.
