Dr. Yaa Asantewaa Osei is a Senior Lecturer and researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Her career is a testament to her relentless pursuit of scientific excellence, pharmaceutical innovation, and drug safety.

Her journey in pharmacy began at KNUST, where she graduated with first-class honours in Pharmacy. Eager to advance pharmaceutical research, she pursued a Ph.D. in Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham, earning the prestigious MIDAS Scholarship, an accolade awarded to top-performing students in the field. Equipped with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for improving healthcare, she returned to Ghana, determined to revolutionize drug formulation and regulatory science.

Today, Dr. Osei is a Senior Lecturer and the head of the Production Unit at FPPS, where she focuses on developing safer, more effective drug formulations and strengthening quality control measures for pharmaceutical products.

 

Fighting Substandard Medicines: The Case of Omeprazole

At the heart of Dr. Osei’s research is a commitment to drug quality and safety. She specializes in formulating innovative medicines, improving therapeutic effectiveness, and increasing patient adherence. She is also pioneering the use of alternative pharmaceutical excipients from local materials, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing Africa’s dependence on expensive imported drug ingredients.

Beyond formulation science, she plays a pivotal role in post-market drug quality surveillance, ensuring that medications in Ghana meet rigorous safety and efficacy standards. For her, science is not just about discovery—it is about making a tangible impact on public health.

One of her most influential studies, published in The Scientific World Journal, focused on the quality assessment of Omeprazole capsules in Ghana. As a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), Omeprazole is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for treating peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and duodenal ulcers. Given its high demand, numerous generic brands have flooded the Ghanaian pharmaceutical market, raising concerns about quality, safety, and effectiveness.

To address these concerns, Dr. Osei and her research team conducted a comprehensive analysis of sixteen different brands of Omeprazole capsules obtained from registered retail pharmacies in Kumasi. Their findings were alarming. While most brands passed the uniformity of weight and disintegration tests, only sixty percent met the required drug content levels. Some capsules contained too little Omeprazole, rendering them ineffective in treating ulcers and acid reflux, while others contained excessively high doses, posing risks of side effects such as nausea, headaches, and kidney damage.

Further analysis revealed that only five out of sixteen brands had dissolution profiles comparable to the original brand-name drug, indicating that many generic Omeprazole products on the market could not be used interchangeably with the innovator drug.

This study underscored the urgent need for stricter drug regulations and enhanced post-market surveillance to protect consumers from substandard medications. Dr. Osei’s research has provided vital insights for drug regulatory bodies in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of continuous quality monitoring in the pharmaceutical sector.

Beyond Research: A Passion for Mentorship and Women in STEM

While her research is transforming pharmaceutical sciences, Dr. Osei is equally passionate about mentorship and education. As a faculty member at KNUST, she is shaping the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists and researchers.

She supervises undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, guiding them through cutting-edge research and challenging them to think critically about drug formulation and quality control. Her dedication to nurturing talent extends to her role as an advocate for women in STEM, where she actively mentors young women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Her commitment to equity and academic excellence goes beyond the classroom. As the Secretary of the KNUST local chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), she works tirelessly to advocate for better policies, funding, and resources for university faculty and researchers.

For Dr. Osei, mentorship is not just about knowledge transfer—it is about empowerment, leadership, and breaking barriers. She is on a mission to inspire more women to take on leadership roles in scientific research and academia.

 

 

Beyond the Lab: A Woman of Many Passions

Despite her demanding career, Dr. Osei remains deeply committed to her family and faith. A devoted wife and mother of four, she skillfully balances academia with parenthood, proving that women can excel in both science and family life.

Her faith is a guiding force in her life, and she is an active Christian leader within her church, embodying the principles of service, integrity, and compassion in all that she does.

Outside the lab, she finds joy and creativity in cooking. Just as she experiments with drug formulations, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes, perfecting flavors, and bringing people together through food.

 

Her Philosophy: Science with a Purpose

Dr. Osei’s life and work are guided by the profound belief that:

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."

Through her groundbreaking research, mentorship, and advocacy, she is ensuring that the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists is well-equipped to transform healthcare in Africa.

 

Dr. Osei is always open to collaborations, insightful discussions, and opportunities that drive meaningful change. Stay connected to explore her research and academic contributions right here on this platform. Dive into her research profile to discover the depth of her work and its influence on pharmaceutical science. Science is more than just discovery—it is a catalyst for transforming lives, and Dr. Yaa Asantewaa Osei is leading the charge.