The latest pharmaceutical industry and healthcare news from the Middle East and Africa (MEA), including Eva Pharma’s rheumatoid arthritis deal with Eli Lilly; Avalon Pharmaceuticals’ global expansion ambitions; the agreement between Lifera and Novo Nordisk for Saudi insulin production;Kelix Bio’s four pharma acquisitions, and Aspen’s EUR 500 million financing package to support African production and distribution.
Eli Lilly signs manufacturing deal for rheumatoid arthritis drug in Africa (Reuters)
Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab will license the manufacturing know-how for its rheumatoid arthritis treatment to Egypt’s Eva Pharma, the companies said on Wednesday, to help localize the drug’s production in Africa.
Under the agreement, EVA would supply the drug, Olumiant, in 49 countries across Africa. Lilly and EVA have been collaborating since 2021. The companies partnered to manufacture insulin in Africa, opens new tab in 2022.
Al-Khorayef: Saudi Arabia Seeking to Localize Large Range of Pharmaceutical Industries (Asharq Al Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef revealed that around 8,000 types of medicines are consumed in the Kingdom, highlighting that the country has identified a set of priorities, focusing on approximately 172 medicines and localizing the production of around 42 of them.
During a panel discussion on the first day of the 7th edition of the Global Health Forum, held in Riyadh on Monday, Al-Khorayef stated that Saudi Arabia offers significant facilitation for industrialization and localization, with a clear framework for enablers and incentives to encourage investors and stakeholders to enter the healthcare sector.
Saudi pharma firms fined $180,000 over product shortages (Arab News)
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has imposed fines totaling SR678,400 ($180,000) on 24 pharmaceutical firms over failures to provide registered products in the local market.
Violations cited by the SFDA included failure to report to the authority’s drug track and trace system, failure to notify the authority of likely shortages or supply interruptions, and failure to maintain adequate stocks of products, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Avalon Pharma surpasses growth expectations with 85% increase in exports, expanding global footprint (Zawya)
Following last year’s announcement of its ambitious international expansion plans, Avalon Pharmaceuticals has made significant strides in global markets, achieving an impressive 85% growth in exports during the first semester of this year. This growth far exceeds the company’s initial expectations and underscores Avalon’s commitment to establishing a strong global presence.
The recent growth was driven by strategic initiatives and partnerships, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Avalon has reinforced its market presence through a key collaboration with the region’s largest distributor, City Pharmacy.
Lifera to localize over 50% of Saudi Arabia’s insulin needs with Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia (Zawya)
Lifera, have announced an agreement with Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest producer of insulin. Through Lifera’s subsidiary, SaudiBio, the two companies have agreed to localize insulin production in Saudi Arabia.
This move will foster technology transfer and cultivate a skilled local biopharmaceutical workforce with aseptic production capabilities. By 2027, Saudi Arabia is set to become the first producer of a biologic innovator insulin in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Head of Egyptian Drug Authority: 37% increase in number of pharmaceutical factories, 60% increase in production lines (Egypt Today)
Egypt to implement nationwide medicine tracking system by H2 2025 (Zawya)
The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) will activate a nationwide tracking system for pharmaceuticals starting in the second half (H2) of 2025, the authority’s head Ali Ghamrawy told Asharq Business.
The initiative aims to curb medicine hoarding, monopoly practices, and shortages, marking a significant step in Egypt’s efforts to enhance the transparency and availability of pharmaceuticals.
Mubadala pharma subsidiary makes four acquisitions from Yas (AGBI)
Mubadala Investment Company’s newly acquired subsidiary, Kelix Bio, has bought four pharma assets from Yas Holdings’ healthcare unit, GlobalOne Healthcare Holdings.
Kelix Bio purchased Bioventure, Bioventure Healthcare, Gulf Inject and Wellpharma, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala said on Monday.
Helio Genomics and Halub Medical Co. Announce Strategic Partnership to Commercialize HelioLiver Dx in The Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East (Global Newswire)
Helio Genomics (“Helio” or “the Company”), an AI-driven biotechnology company specializing in diagnostics technology and test development for cancer detection, today announced the strategic partnership, in commercializing HelioLiver Dx in Saudi Arabia, with Halub Medical Co., a healthcare company for Saudi Arabia, GCC and Middle East. The test is expected to be commercially available in Saudi Arabia and The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Q1 2025, with the following 12-month revenue for Helio expected to exceed $10 million dollars.
First 100% Algerian-Made Insulin Set for Market Launch Next Week (Dzair Tube)
A significant milestone in Algeria’s pharmaceutical industry has been reached with the announcement that the first fully domestically produced insulin will be commercially available starting next week. Manufactured by Biocare Biotech under the brand name “Bio Mix,” this locally produced insulin is intended for patients of all ages, from children to the elderly.
The announcement was made by Biocare Biotech’s Director General, Abdelkader Amraoui, during an official ceremony celebrating the launch of the first-ever Algerian-made insulin. Amraoui highlighted that this achievement is the result of extensive research and development by Biocare, supported by the government’s efforts to promote self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical production. He emphasized that this breakthrough represents a significant step towards optimal care for diabetic patients in Algeria.
IFC, Proparco, DEG, and DFC Support Aspen to Strengthen Africa’s Pharmaceutical Sector (IFC)
To support the production and distribution of life-saving medicines and vaccines in Africa, IFC; Proparco; the German Development Finance Institution (DEG); and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), today announced a joint financing package for Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (Aspen).
The €500 million loan package to Aspen Treasury Ireland Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aspen, includes €150 million from IFC’s own account, and €350 million in parallel loans mobilized from DEG, DFC, and Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence Francaise Development, the French Government’s development finance institution. Aspen is a South Africa-based, global specialty and branded multinational pharmaceutical company.
