Kwasi Amfo | Founder and CEO
Luipaard

Kwasi Amfo has over 30 years international experience across the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. He has worked and managed global teams with multinationals including GSK Biologicals, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and as Vice President and Director at Takeda Vaccines. His work in the industry vaccines spans Europe, US, Africa and Asia where he has spent the last 22 years managing operational and strategic teams in India, China, Japan and Singapore. Kwasi Amfo is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Luipaard Pte Ltd, a management consultancy and advisory firm with specialist expertise in pharmaceutical sector, public health and other health sectors. Luipaard also provides strategic management consultancy services across private and public sectors including public health institutions and allied research organisations as well as Development Banks with emphasis on projects across Africa. Kwasi serves in advisory roles in institutions such as Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and projects funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and government agencies. He has advised and provide strategic and operational support for several projects geared towards the African continent and the wider lower and middles income regions. Kwasi’s academic research work focused on cancer genetics and potential cancer vaccines exploring oncogenes and suppressor genes pathways in vaccine development. In industry and public health, he has worked with and led global teams in the development and roll-out of cancer, pediatric, maternal and emerging diseases vaccines, lately, COVID 19 pandemic vaccines.

Appearances:

Day 2 (21st October) @ 12:15

Panel: The New Geography of Vaccine Innovation: Why the Next Decade of Vaccine Development Will Be Driven by LMICs

The next decade of vaccine development will increasingly depend on the ability of LMICs to build sustainable capabilities for research, innovation, financing, and clinical development. As the global vaccine ecosystem evolves, LMICs are moving beyond their traditional role as sites for clinical research and becoming increasingly important contributors to vaccine innovation.

This panel will explore three critical dimensions of this transformation:

Building sustainable vaccine innovation ecosystems: strengthening scientific leadership, developing sustainable clinical trial networks and innovation hubs, leveraging AI and emerging technologies, and connecting clinical research capabilities with manufacturing innovation, including RNA technologies.
Financing vaccine clinical research: exploring how vaccine development can remain sustainable amid constrained global health funding, including the role of blended finance, funding agencies, and locally led financing mechanisms.
Strengthening regulatory and clinical ecosystems: examining opportunities for greater regulatory interoperability and regional harmonization, including the use of master protocols, while maintaining rigorous scientific standards. The discussion will also address logistical challenges, pharmacovigilance, and post-trial safety surveillance.

Together, these perspectives will examine what is needed to create resilient, locally anchored vaccine ecosystems in LMICs and how stronger scientific, financial, regulatory, and technological foundations can contribute to the next generation of vaccine innovation.

Session led by: Emmes Biopharma Services LLC

Raman Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Hilleman Laboratories Singapore Pte Ltd