iThemba, which means "hope" in Zulu, is a research based drug discovery company based in Modderfontein, South Africa. The company mission is to champion world-class drug discovery and development of new treatments for neglected infectious deseases including HIV-Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis (TB). The company has developed a strong foundation in synthetic organic, natural product and medicinal chemistry; it has core staff with diverse multinational experience and is well-supported through several world renowned pharmaceutical experts, who sit on its scientific advisory and shareholder boards. iThemba received start-up funds from the South Africian Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).