Wits RHI

What Wits RHI does

Wits RHI (Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute) is a non-profit, multidisciplinary health research institute established in 1994 and housed within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The institute conducts investigator-led and consortia clinical trials across all phases, with core research areas spanning HIV prevention and treatment, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal and reproductive health, and emerging pandemic preparedness (COVID-19, Mpox, Ebola, influenza). Its technology platform consists of clinical and laboratory infrastructure at the Hillbrow Health Precinct campus, supporting complex multi-phase trials such as the M72/AS01E TB vaccine (Phase 3), HPTN 108 broadly neutralizing antibody study, HOPE II HPV vaccine trial, and BEATRIX Group B Streptococcus vaccine trial, alongside implementation science initiatives like Project PrEP.

Wits RHI does not sell products or services; instead it operates on a managed services revenue model funded almost entirely by grants and donor contributions from international health organizations including Unitaid, the Global Fund, Gates Foundation, and global health partnerships with WHO, Africa CDC, Gavi, and MedAccess. Distribution of health interventions occurs through the South African public health system across 360 government health facilities, supplemented by mobile clinics and community-based organizations, reaching populations including pregnant women, mother-infant pairs, women and adolescent girls, and adults and children living with HIV and TB. With over 1,400 staff, 49 research appointments, and 61 active grants in 2025, the institute functions as a high-volume implementation and evaluation partner for global health product rollouts, most notably the recent Lenacapavir HIV prevention introduction covering 456,000 people through a $29 million Global Fund grant.

The institute's go-to-market motion is community-led: it leverages long-standing trust with underserved populations in inner-city Johannesburg and high-burden districts (Tshwane, Mthatha, Gqeberha, eThekwini) to deliver ethically grounded research. It is one of few institutions in the southern hemisphere engaged in market shaping and regulatory strengthening, positioning itself as a bridge between global pharmaceutical innovators and low- and middle-income country health systems. Pricing is not applicable in the commercial sense; all research outputs are funded upfront by donors and delivered free to study participants and public health beneficiaries.

Name

Wits RHI

Legal name

Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute

Website

https://wrhi.ac.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Wits RHI is a South African non-profit research institute at the University of the Witwatersrand conducting clinical trials and implementation science in HIV prevention, tuberculosis, vaccines, and maternal health. It serves underserved populations in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa through grant-funded programs delivered via 360 government health facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), Real-World Data (RWD) / Real-World Evidence (RWE) & Observational Research Platforms (HLACAOAM)

Keywords

• Clinical research services
• HIV prevention trials
• Vaccine clinical trials
• Public health research
• Implementation science

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Donor Funding: Wits RHI operates primarily through grants from international health organizations and donors including Unitaid, Global Fund, Gates Foundation, and government funding for HIV prevention and research programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wits RHI is a non-profit health research institute at the University of the Witwatersrand that delivers investigator-led clinical trials and implementation science programs across HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, and maternal and reproductive health. Its work combines clinical trials, technical assistance, advocacy, and health systems strengthening, with major funded programs including Project PrEP, the M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine trial, the HPTN 108/PAUSE study, the HOPE II HPV vaccine study, and the BEATRIX Group B Streptococcus maternal vaccine study.

Product overview

Wits RHI is a health research institute at the University of Witwatersrand that operates research programs and clinical trials rather than commercial products. Its research portfolio includes Project PrEP as the primary implementation science initiative for HIV prevention, supplemented by specialized clinical trials: the M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine trial, HOPE II HPV vaccine study, BEATRIX maternal GBS vaccine study, and HPTN 108 broadly neutralizing antibodies study. The institute also supports lenacapavir rollout through the Len4PrEP study. Wits RHI's work spans HIV prevention, treatment, TB, STIs, vaccine-preventable diseases, emerging pandemics, and maternal health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project PrEP Unitaid-funded implementation science initiative integrating oral PrEP into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls and young women in high-priority communities in South Africa.
• Len4PrEP Study Implementation study evaluating lenacapavir (LEN) for HIV prevention conducted within Project PrEP in Tshwane, with activities continuing into 2027.
• HPTN 108/PAUSE Study Phase 1 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the safety, antiviral activity, and immunomodulatory effects of broadly neutralizing antibodies 3BNC117-LS-J and 10-1074-LS-J in combination in ART-treated adults in sub-Saharan Africa.
• M72/AS01E Tuberculosis Vaccine Study (Gates MRI-TBV02-301) Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and immune response of the investigational M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine in adolescents and adults, building on Phase 2b results showing approximately 50% protection against active pulmonary TB.
• HOPE II Study Double-blind randomized controlled study evaluating the efficacy of a single-dose nonavalent HPV vaccine in preventing persistent HPV infections among women living with HIV who were previously vaccinated against HPV 16/18.
• BEATRIX Study (C1091009) Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immune response of a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine (GBS6) administered during pregnancy to protect newborns from invasive GBS disease.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV demonstrated in Lenacapavir clinical trials
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive engagement with WHO on global health policy, guidelines, and implementation strategies
• Africa CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for continental disease surveillance, outbreak response, and health security strengthening
• GavicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on vaccine introduction and immunization programs for African populations
• International Vaccine InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on vaccine development and evaluation for diseases affecting low- and middle-income countries
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Project PrEP to support country preparedness for Lenacapavir introduction and secure generic access to HIV prevention products for low- and middle-income countries
• Dr Reddy's LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to secure generic access to HIV prevention products for low- and middle-income countries
• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on HPTN 108/PAUSE Study investigating broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV treatment

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa): South African research institute conducting HIV/TB clinical trials and vaccine research in KwaZulu-Natal. Directly comparable in disease focus, trial portfolio, and academic-affiliated model.
• Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: UCT-affiliated HIV prevention research institute in Cape Town with strong community engagement and clinical trial operations. Directly comparable in HIV prevention focus and South African academic research model.
• Aurum Institute: South African health research and implementation NGO focused on HIV, TB, and mining health. Comparable in non-profit research model, donor funding structure, and disease focus.
• KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute): Kenya's national health research institute conducting clinical trials, vaccine research, and public health interventions. Strong peer on African-led infectious disease research model.
• MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit: Joint Uganda-London research unit conducting HIV and vaccine trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. Highly comparable in trial portfolio, viral suppression research, and African academic research model.

Broad incumbents

• South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC): National government health research body funding and conducting health research across South Africa. Comparable in mandate to advance African health research, though broader in scope.
• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN): Global HIV prevention research network conducting major trials across continents. Wits RHI is a direct partner, and HPTN's network model is comparable for clinical trial capability.
• PATH: Global non-profit advancing health innovation including vaccines, therapeutics, and market shaping. Comparable in market shaping capability and donor-funded global health research model.
• FHI 360: Global development organization with significant HIV prevention and reproductive health research portfolio. Comparable in donor-funded implementation science and global health research delivery.

Emerging players

• Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Uganda: Makerere University-affiliated clinical research and training center in Uganda. Comparable in academic-affiliated African research model and HIV/TB focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WitsRHI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wits-rhi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wits RHI