A selection of top stories coming out of the Middle East and Africa’s pharma sector: Egypt’s Gypto Pharma partners with US drugmaker Dawa to expand the local production of medicines; Jordan’s Hikma makes a USD 1 billion investment pledge for US manufacturing and R&D, and Riyadh-headquartered private equity firm Jadwa sets out to sell its stake in UniPharma. In other MEA news, Morocco faces a severe and ongoing shortage of essential medicines.
Egypt’s Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance (Daily News Egypt)
Egypt’s Gypto Pharma (Medicine City) and US-based Dawa Pharmaceuticals signed a strategic alliance agreement aimed at strengthening Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry and achieving US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) qualification for Gypto Pharma’s facilities.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing ceremony at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The event was attended by senior officials including Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Investment Hassan El Khatib, presidential health advisor Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, the heads of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) and the Unified Procurement Authority (UPA), US Ambassador to Cairo Herro Mustafa Garg, and Qatari Ambassador Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari.
Roche and Egypt’s UPA sign MoU on sustainable healthcare procurement (Daily News Egypt)
Roche Diagnostics Egypt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA) to help integrate environmental sustainability into the country’s healthcare procurement system.
The collaboration is aimed at supporting the UPA in embedding green procurement principles and sustainability frameworks across all phases of its healthcare procurement lifecycle, from planning and acquisition to waste management. The initiative is aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 for Sustainable Development and its national goals for environmental stewardship and resource-efficient healthcare.
Hikma pledges $1 billion of new US investment (The Pharma Letter)
In its ongoing mission to help meet America’s growing need for high-quality US-made medicines, London listed Jordanian drugmaker Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE: HIK) announced its US unit will invest $1 billion by 2030 to further expand its manufacturing and R&D capabilities in the country.
The company says this new phase in of investment – America Leans on Hikma: Quality Medicines Manufactured in the USA – will further expand Hikma’s well-established domestic capabilities to develop, produce and deliver a broad range of medicines needed by the US healthcare system to treat patients nationwide. Hikma, primarily a generics drugmaker, joins a long list of originator pharma firms investing heavily in the USA, largely in response to President Donald Trump’s ‘made in America’ calls.
Jadwa in talks to sell UniPharma stake (Arabian Gulf Business Insight)
Jadwa Investment Company is reportedly planning to sell its majority stake in UniPharma, a leading pharmaceutical group in Saudi Arabia.
The Riyadh-headquartered private equity company and the investment banking arm of Egypt’s EFG Holding are working to divest its 51 percent stake in UniPharma, Bloomberg reported citing informed sources.
Abbott in partnership focused on producing pharmaceuticals in Abu Dhabi (Fierce Pharma)
US multinational company Abbott entered a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health to manufacture medicines in the United Arab Emirates capital as part of the country’s effort to strengthen its supply chain and bolster its overall healthcare system.
The deal was inked during the recent BIO International Convention held in Boston and focuses on four key elements that comprise Abbott setting up local production of its pharmaceutical catalog, the development of biosimilars, adopting more digital patient offerings and a healthcare education and workforce development initiative, the two said in a June 20 press release.
Abu Dhabi strengthens global pharma vision with Boehringer Ingelheim partnership (Gulf News)
As part of its broader vision to position the UAE as a regional and global hub for life sciences, health innovation, and advanced pharmaceutical industries, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The agreement was formalized during an official visit by an Abu Dhabi delegation to the United States.
This strategic partnership aims to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s scientific research and innovation ecosystem by supporting pioneering research projects and cultivating an environment that fosters scientific excellence—further reinforcing the emirate’s status as a leading destination for life sciences and health innovation.
Moroccans Unable to Find Over 600 Essential Medicines (Morocco World News)
Morocco is facing a severe and ongoing shortage of essential medicines, with over 600 drugs out of stock nationwide – including treatments for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, neurological disorders, and cancer.
The Moroccan Consumer Rights Association (FMDC) conveyed concerns over the situation, noting that this is no longer a temporary disruption but a systemic collapse that threatens public trust in the entire healthcare system.
Biocon India and Morocco: A Pharmaceutical Partnership to Strengthen Health Security in Africa (Assahifa)
India’s Biocon Biologics, a leading biotechnology company specializing in the production of biosimilars, is expanding its presence in the Moroccan market as part of a health-focused partnership aimed at reinforcing pharmaceutical security across Africa by marketing biological drugs to treat chronic and serious diseases.
Company officials revealed, during a visit by an international media delegation—including Assahifa—to Biocon’s headquarters in Bengaluru, India, that Biocon is one of the world’s foremost biotech companies. It operates in over 120 countries, with a particular focus on emerging markets, including those in Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey.
