A pharmaceutical firm has begun producing “affordable generic medicines” out of a Dubai manufacturing facility, in line with a government drive to reduce the country’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals.
Pharmax Pharmaceuticals’ facility, based at Dubai Science Park, can currently produce more than 200m tablets, and is set to increase that to more than 800m within five years, said the company.
The medicines in production are affordable equivalents to brand-name drugs and have the same intended use, effects and method of administration, according to Pharmax.
The construction of the facility started in 2015 as a joint venture between UAE medicines distributor Al Ittihad Drug Store and Moroccan pharmaceutical makers Cooper Pharma and Bottu Pharmaceuticals.
It will produce medications targeting common illnesses in the Middle East, including cardiovascular, bacterial and viral diseases, as well as asthma and allergy-related conditions.
The UAE government lists pharmaceuticals as one of six areas in which it wishes to boost manufacturing in the kingdom as part of its Dubai Industrial Strategy (also known as the Dubai Plan 2021).
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, a member of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Taskforce of the Dubai Industrial Strategy and director of the Dubai Science Park, said Pharmax beginning production was a “significant milestone” for the kingdom.
“It will be the first of our business partners that is setting up manufacturing capabilities in line with the objectives of the Dubai Industrial Strategy, which seeks to reduce the country’s reliance on imports of pharmaceutical products,” he said.
Madhukar Tanna, chief executive of Pharmax, said: “Now is the perfect time for Pharmax Pharmaceuticals to launch in the region. The Dubai Plan 2021 highlights pharmaceutical manufacturing as a key development sector and the UAE needs more high-quality generic medications.”
“We have received very positive support from the Ministry of Health and Prevention and local health authorities for our work here at Pharmax,” he added.
Other commodities which the kingdom is pushing to manufacture more of its own include food, metals and machinery. Last month, the UAE signed a deal to develop a range of prototype urban farming projects in a bid to improve the nation's food security.
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