Magoola says cancer treatment invention awarded US patent

KAMPALA - Dr Matthias Magoola says the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent for his invention of the first treatment of cancer using a novel composition of a guided Ribonucleic acid (RNA).

According to him, on February 6, 2025, the USPTO granted and published an application he filed to secure exclusive rights to the invention.

Magoola is the founder and managing director of Dei BioPharma Ltd, a biotech and pharmaceutical research firm in Matugga, Wakiso district, which specialises in the development and manufacture of innovative medicines and vaccines.

“This invention took several years to develop and presents the first treatment of cancer using a novel composition of a guided RNA that is attached to the Cas9 protein known to disrupt genes that have mutated and caused cancer,” he said.

After publishing the patent, Magoola was asked to submit an approval plan to the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) next month to prepare for clinical trials of the treatment which will begin before the end of this year.

“All details of the manufacturing of this product have been completed and are ready to go for testing,” Magoola told New Vision yesterday.

He said when approved, this inventive treatment will present a product worth $300b and its simplicity will allow it to be used all over the world, including in developing countries, at a minimal cost of lifesaving inventions.

The treatment will be a welcome relief to cancer patients worldwide projected to hit 35 million per year by 2030.

According to Magoola, the invention is a humanitarian contribution to humanity to fulfil his dream of eradicating cancer in the world.

“This invention was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to professors Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna; however, in their invention, the Cas9 protein disrupts the gene and lets the cell fix it,” he noted.

Prof. Charpentier and Prof. Doudna’s invention known as CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing technique that enables scientists to remove and add pieces of genetic material with exquisite precision.

It can be used to disable genes, correct genetic disorders or to insert genes to create animal models of human disease.

New Vision Online also heard that Magoola’s invention takes this Nobel Prize work a significant step ahead, where a guiding RNA takes the Cas9 to mutated genes and disrupts it but prevents fixing the mutation that has caused cancer and thus kills those cells.

The US FDA has before approved two editing products, but none for treating cancer by disrupting the genes.

“My invention makes it possible to target only the cancer cells and does not affect healthy cells, the most significant property of this invention,” the Ugandan scientist said.

He said this means that with the invention, it will be possible to treat every cancer, regardless of its spread stage, by targeting only the cells that have become carcinogenic.

The invention, too, removes all side effects of chemotherapy, antibody therapy, and radiation and makes it possible for cancer patients to survive without any short-term or long-term side effects.

Another milestone

This latest development marks another milestone for Magoola and his firm.

On January 7, the USPTO accepted his application to secure exclusive rights to the invention of the world’s first universal vaccine against Foot and Mouth Disease, an infection that has been wreaking havoc in livestock across the country and other parts of the world.

In December last year, Magoola received the prestigious International Molecular Biologist Award for his contributions to vaccine research.

He was awarded the Best Researcher Award for his contribution and honourable achievement in innovative research with his emphasis on using mRNA technology to produce therapeutic drugs and protein vaccines.

This was after he authored a study titled “Advancing Therapeutic and Vaccine Proteins: Switching from Recombinant to Ribosomal Delivery—A Humanitarian Cause”.

This study was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, a peer-reviewed journal.

Dr. Magoola’s first product was the COVID-19 vaccine that he developed using mRNA technology in the US, which is currently kept in a cell bank ready for introduction as the COVID-19 virus mutates to spread the disease.

He has more than 100 patents filed in the US for treating different diseases and vaccines, including cancer, HIV, Alzheimer's, Malaria, TB and Diabetes.

What Museveni, experts say

President Yoweri Museveni recently praised Dei BioPharma Ltd for its groundbreaking work in producing life-saving vaccines and drugs, including cancer treatment.

“Dei Biopharma in Matugga are now at the manufacturing stage of 30 different drugs and vaccines and different antibiotics. We must congratulate our people who have made the country self-sufficient," Museveni said.

He made the remarks during the 44th Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kyotera district on February 6.

The President emphasized the importance of recognising and rewarding scientists who have contributed to the country’s scientific innovations, including Magoola.

The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero, also hailed Magoola for enabling Uganda to become a vaccine-manufacturing country.

“Magoola is one of the scientists who have been doing a lot of original research and as the Government, we are very excited about this (development). He has put our country at a very high level of science and given our science credibility,” she said.

The minister added: “We are now becoming a vaccine-manufacturing country and this is something we have been working on for quite a while. So, we are very proud.”

Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, the chairperson of the National Drug Authority (NDA), hailed Magoola for the invention.

“I want to salute Magoola for being a brave man and venturing into producing rare and expensive drugs in the country. I am happy he is working through collaborations with the US drug manufacturers to manufacture the same drugs here using their active pharmaceutical ingredients,” he said.

Bitekyerezo said as NDA, they would be glad to walk the journey of fully producing this cancer treatment drug with Magoola so that Ugandans can stop buying drugs from outside the country.

“For us as NDA, we support Magoola and we hope he will start producing drugs as soon as possible because Ugandans have been put into an expectant mood. They want to see us start producing these vaccines,” he said.

Prof Francis Omaswa, a senior consultant doctor and former director general of health services at the health ministry, also lauded Magoola.

“Let’s encourage and support him because it is a very tedious process. However, let the clinical trials take place without too much publicity because it is not yet a confirmed success. So, we need to be patient and for independent people to test the drug in real life and we don’t know whether the results are good or bad,” he said.

Omaswa added: “We are okay as scientists only that we have not enjoyed the support we need from our own people and government but President Museveni is positive about all this.”