Wednesday 04 Dec
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, witnessed the celebration of the completion of the first phase of technology transfer for the manufacturing of biological and biopharmaceutical drugs for cancer treatment. This was achieved through a partnership between the Egyptian Drug Authority (Gipto Pharma) and the Swiss company Roche, which specializes in pharmaceuticals and diagnostic solutions.
The event was attended by Major General Dr. Bahaa ElDin Zidan, Chairman of the Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority for Medical Supplies and Equipment and Medical Technology Management, Dr. Ali El-Gamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, Dr. Andrea Bum, Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt, Dr. Amr Mamdouh, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority (Gipto Pharma), Dr. Mohamed Lateef, President of the Egyptian Health Council, Dr. Mohamed Sweilam, General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals in Egypt, and a number of leaders from the Ministry of Health and Population.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stated that this is a significant
step toward localizing advanced pharmaceutical industries. He emphasized the
importance of accelerating the partnership between the Drug Authority and Roche
to complete all phases of local drug production. He expressed his aspiration to
expand this partnership to achieve self-sufficiency and eventually export to
various countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of
localizing the biological drug industry to support presidential initiatives for
treating chronic diseases, reduce drug import costs, and provide affordable
medication to patients.
He explained that Egypt's annual drug market is valued at
approximately 330 billion Egyptian pounds. He emphasized the importance of
collaborating with companies interested in research and development, highlighting
Egypt's robust infrastructure, research centers, and pharmacy faculties, which
are equipped with distinguished researchers and academic staff.
Major General Dr. Bahaa ElDin Zidan, Chairman of the Unified
Procurement Authority, highlighted the significant impact of these partnerships
on the nation's economy. He emphasized that these collaborations stimulate
national industries, create new biotechnology jobs, reduce import dependency,
and boost exports.
Dr. Ali El-Gamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority,
said that this achievement signifies a substantial shift from mere technology
consumption to domestic production. This shift, coupled with the production of
globally-competitive drugs, will lead to a substantial reduction in the import
bill. He underscored the importance of nurturing Egyptian talent capable of
driving innovation and development. The Egyptian drug market, particularly the
cancer drug segment, has experienced remarkable growth in 2024, with a 55%
increase in sales of monoclonal antibodies compared to the previous year. This
represents a compound annual growth rate of 38% over the past five years.
The Authority remains committed to fostering partnerships
with industry players, transferring successful international practices to the
Egyptian drug system, and supporting local drug manufacturing initiatives.
Localizing the drug industry is a cornerstone of Egypt's drug strategy, and the
Authority is actively supporting the localization efforts of companies like
Gipton and Roche, whose combined import bill amounts to $161.7 million.
Dr. Amr Mamdouh, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority,
emphasized the critical importance of localizing the production of cancer
treatment drugs. He highlighted the Authority's commitment to achieving global
leadership in drug manufacturing, focusing on adhering to international quality
standards, robust research and development, and launching high-quality products
for common diseases. Additionally, the Authority is actively attracting global
companies to transfer manufacturing technology, expand regionally and locally,
and build capacity in specialized industries.
Mamdouh noted that "Gipto Pharma" has achieved a
significant production volume of approximately 65 million units. He expressed
his gratitude to Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar for his support of the Egyptian Drug
Authority and his encouragement of collaborations with various global
companies.
In his speech, Dr. Mohamed Sweilem, General Manager of Roche Pharma in Egypt, stated, "For the past 40 years, Roche has been dedicated to collaborating with the Egyptian government, the Ministry of Health and Population, and the broader healthcare sector to develop advanced medical solutions and improve the quality of life for Egyptians and the Arab world. We are immensely proud of our recent collaboration with Gipton Pharma, which involved transferring technology and skills related to the complex manufacture of biopharmaceuticals to Egyptian drug experts at the Egyptian Drug Authority. This strategic partnership marks the beginning of a long-term relationship focused on addressing a wide range of chronic diseases. It represents a groundbreaking first step for both Egypt and the entire region."
