Cairo, 8 June, 2023 –

Roche, the leading Swiss pharmaceutical company, and EVA Pharma, a global healthcare organization that focuses on unmet patient needs, announced today a strategic partnership to localize the production of advanced medication for patients undergoing organ transplant procedures. The MOU includes localizing manufacturing at EVA Pharma’s dedicated and internationally accredited immunosuppressant manufacturing facility in 10th of Ramadan city, Egypt as well as the prospect of exporting to emerging markets in Africa.

 

The official MoU signing event was held at the 2nd edition of the Africa Health Excon and was witnessed by  Dr. Awad Tag Eldin, Presidential advisor for health affairs; Major General Dr. Bahaa El Din Ahmed Zeidan, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement; Dr. Tamer Essam, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority;  Prof. Dr. Adel Adawy – Former Minister of Health and Population, Egypt; Mr. Andreas Muller, Regional Area Finance Director Middle East in Roche as well as the Swiss Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Elisabeth Gilge. The agreement was signed by Dr. Mohamed Swilam, General Manager of Roche Egypt and Dr. Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma.

 

This manufacturing localization project will encourage technology transfer and the complicated know-how development of much-needed immunosuppressant  medication  which is essential to improve the lives of patients who are undergoing organ transplants via a cost-competitive and resilient model, deepening local pharmaceutical production in alignment with the Egyptian government’s priorities. The pharmaceutical industry is a major pillar of Egypt’s economic reform plan in terms of the value of its contribution to GDP and the creation of job opportunities and ultimately supports the achievement of the country’s sustainable development strategy, Egypt's Vision 2030.

 

“Roche has a very patient-centric approach and is committed to improving the outcomes that matter most to patients across the entire care journey,” said Dr. Swilam. “This MoU will enable us to deliver innovative medication to Egyptian patients faster and at an economic cost and this is the core outcome we are aiming to achieve. This manufacturing localization project encourages technology transfer and local knowledge development which enables a more sustainable health care system, and helps in establishing strategic national capabilities to unleash the country's future potential in the field of health care.”

 

The MoU signing and localization demonstrates Roche as a proven strategic partner with the expertise, experience, and technological leadership to help deliver the Egyptian Government’s Health Pillar of its 2030 Vision.

 

“Although we are still in an early stage within the industry transformation journey, I believe we are now living in one of the best times of healthcare provision in Egypt in terms of positive change, appreciation of the value of innovation, and genuine interest from decision makers to improve patients’ lives.” Swilam added.

 

“We believe that the availability of high-quality medicines is crucial. Patients undergoing organ transplant procedures require special care, starting with the quality of the medications they receive.” Said Dr. Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma. “Our collaboration with Roche will bring innovative and high-quality medicines to those in need. By leveraging cutting-edge technological advancements, we aim to reduce the impact of pre- and post-transplant issues, ultimately improving patient outcomes. With our robust operational capabilities and our dedicated immunosuppressant manufacturing site we will significantly reduce lead times in making these health care solutions available for patients in emerging markets.”

 

Dr. Armanious added, “The pharmaceutical industry in Egypt has reached important and advanced stages of quality, comparable to international standards in the industry, and the MoU we are signing today is a testament to that. We are very proud to be able to not only bring this advanced technology to Egypt but to other emerging markets across Africa as well. This is why we are eager to collaborate with Roche and reach the ultimate goal of increasing patient access to life-saving medicines”.

 

About Roche

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, as well as growing capabilities in the area of data-driven medical insights help Roche deliver truly personalized healthcare. Roche is working with partners across the healthcare sector to provide the best care for each person.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. In recent years, Roche has invested in genomic profiling and real-world data partnerships and has become an industry-leading partner for medical insights.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relEVAnt stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of

Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

 

 

 

About EVA Pharma

EVA Pharma empowers the fight for health and well-being in communities around the world. With a 5,000-strong team of professionals, the company produces more than one million healthcare products a day at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, which are equipped with cutting-edge technology, are internationally recognized for innovation, and have been approved by multiple regulatory agencies.

The company’s product portfolio focuses on pressing, yet unmet, disease areas, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, neuroscience, ophthalmology, anti-infectives, bone and pain, hepatology, and reproductive health, to meet both local and international demand.

EVA Pharma is one of the fastest-growing healthcare companies in the Middle East and Africa, with an extensive pan-African presence, while operating in more than 40 countries worldwide.

 

For more information, please visit: www.EVApharma.com & https://www.EVApharma.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram.