Étienne Flaubert Batangu Mpesa

Batangu Mpesa earned his pharmaceutical degree from the University of Kinshasa in 1971.^[4] He then earned a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences.^[5] In 1980, he founded the Centre de recherche pharmaceutique de Luozi. He later created its website and remained its top researcher.^[6] His daughter, Mamyssa Batangu Mpesa, also became a pharmacist.^[7]

Batangu Mpesa invented the prescription drug Manadiar,^[8][9] which was designed to combat amoebic diarrhea.^[10] He also created Manalaria, which helped fight malaria.^[11] In November 2020, he had his drug Manacovid,^[12][13] approved by the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[14] The drug was designed to treat COVID-19.^[15][16][17] It has yet to be approved by the World Health Organization.^[18]

Étienne Flaubert Batangu Mpesa died of pancreatic cancer in Kinshasa on 5 March 2021 at the age of 78.^[19]