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Egypt has a large population with a high prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. This has resulted in a high demand for pharmaceutical products, particularly for drugs that treat these chronic conditions.
Generics medications account for the largest share of the Egyptian pharmaceutical market, with a share of over 70%. This is due to the strong demand for affordable medications in the country.
Branded medications account for the remaining share of the market. This segment is expected to grow in the coming years, as more people can afford branded medications.
OTC drugs are a growing segment of the Egyptian pharmaceutical market. This is due to the increasing awareness of self-care and the availability of a wider range of OTC drugs.
Egyptian leadership has also rolled out several presidential initiatives tackling key issues including Hepatitis C, chronic disease and kidney failure, and women’s health.
The development of the market is hardly surprising considering the years-in-the-making transformation of healthcare in the country. Egypt launched its Universal Healthcare Act in 2018, aiming to provide health coverage to all 100+ million inhabitants, as well as various national campaigns aimed at eradicating diseases such as Hepatitis C.
An initiative that reflects the government’s view of pharma as a key industry is the recent creation of Gypto Pharma, also known as Medicine City in 2021. The project is one of the largest of its kind in the region and was conceived as a specialized hub for manufacturing various medicines and vaccines.
Egypt now boasts a revitalized and more robust institutional and regulatory framework, with several new institutions having been created. All this has led to a pharma market which is growing at three times the regional average, stands second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of value within the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region, and takes top spot on volume.
MEA heads with a region-wide view, and the pioneering chiefs of local firms aiming to position Egypt as a regional manufacturing and R&D hub.
Some of the key topics covered include regulatory reform, the progress of Egypt’s push for universal healthcare, regional collaborations, manufacturing trends, hospital infrastructure investments, outcome-based procurement, clinical trials potential, product launch experiences, women in leadership, and much more.
Egypt is one of the largest producers and consumers of pharmaceuticals in the entire Middle East and Africa region. This industry began in Egypt with Tal ‘at Harp and the establishment of the first Egyptian pharmaceutical company in 1939 under the name of “Misr Company for Pharmaceuticals” believing in the strategic importance of a strong national pharmaceutical industry.
The Egyptian government is actively supporting local drug manufacturing through various incentives, including tax breaks, subsidies, and streamlined regulatory processes. This aims to reduce reliance on imports and foster a self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector.
The government has streamlined regulatory procedures to expedite the process of obtaining licenses and permits for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. This simplification aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and encourage companies to invest in local production and also the government promotes technology transfer and research collaboration between international pharmaceutical companies and local research institutions.
NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer are a major public health concern in Egypt. This rising prevalence will drive demand for effective medications and innovative treatment strategies.
The Egyptian pharmaceutical market is growing rapidly, and there is a lot of research and development activity in the country. Some of the drugs in clinical trials in the Egyptian pharmaceutical market are: Vemurafenib (Phase III), Veliparib (Phase II), PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (Phase III, Phase IV), CAR-T cell therapy (Phase I,Phase II).
Counterfeit drugs pose a significant threat to patient safety and undermine the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms, enhancing public awareness, and adopting track-and-trace technologies are crucial to combating counterfeit drugs.
Egyptian pharmaceutical companies are embracing new technologies such as biosimilars, personalized medicine, and gene therapy to develop more effective and targeted treatments. This trend presents opportunities for companies investing in these technologies and bringing them to the Egyptian market.
The Egypt Pharmaceutical Market accounted for $XX Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030.
The Egyptian government is planning to establish partnerships with the private sector to develop and manufacture pharmaceuticals locally. The government is also considering providing incentives to private companies that invest in the pharmaceutical industry.
Oneness has submitted a medical device registration application for Bonvadis to the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).Oneness implements dual strategies of both medicine products and medical devices for development and marketing of our wound care products.
Each type of product will comply with corresponding regulatory requirements to get earlier access to the markets.Egypt belongs to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a population of approximately 108 million people, accounting for 28% of the total population of the MENA region. The wound care market holds great potential in this region.
Astellas has a very specialized portfolio that addresses unmet needs in Egypt. One of the upcoming launches is a medicine for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease that is first in its class and has even won a Nobel Prize.It is the first oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase (PH) inhibitor to treat symptomatic anemia in adult patients with CKD either on dialysis or not on dialysis and improves their quality of life.
Strengthening manufacturing capabilities: Egypt has established itself as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, boasting a strong infrastructure. Local companies are investing in state-of-the-art production facilities to enhance their manufacturing capabilities. Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry exports to over 60 countries, generating significant revenue for the country.
Egypt is making strides in biopharmaceutical research and development, with several local companies investing in the development of novel therapies and treatments. Egypt has a growing number of universities and research institutions that are conducting research in biopharmaceuticals, and the government is also providing funding for research and development projects.
AI is being used to develop new drugs, predict patient outcomes, and improve the efficiency of clinical trials. This is expected to have a significant impact on the Egyptian pharmaceutical industry in the coming years.
The Egyptian pharmaceutical industry is embracing digital technologies to improve efficiency, streamline operations, and enhance patient access to healthcare services.
Alvotech and Bioventure Announce Approval of AVT02 (adalimumab) in Egypt.The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) has approved the manufacturing and distribution of AVT02 (adalimumab) a biosimilar for Humira, which is commonly indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and several other inflammatory diseases, under the trade name Adalimumab-EVA.
Gilead Sciences has offered to supply new hepatitis C pill Sovaldi to Egypt at a 99 percent discount to the U.S. price. Sovaldi could have a major impact on public health in Egypt by significantly increasing the number of people who can be cured of hepatitis C.
Sovaldi is in the vanguard of a wave of pills which could cure the liver-destroying disease in millions of people worldwide, or even eradicate it entirely. But that will only happen if the new therapies are affordable enough to allow widespread use.
The first fixed dose combination triple therapy in one device for asthma has been introduced in Egypt by Novartis Pharma S.A.E. (Novartis Egypt). The goal is to give patients better control over their condition and improve their quality of life.
New inhalers with new molecules have been introduced into the Egyptian market for both dual therapy and triple therapy inhalers with superior control, mometasone furoate has demonstrated the highest binding affinity.
Novartis strives to develop treatments for both common and uncommon diseases.”For a very long time, Novartis has placed a high priority on treating respiratory conditions, particularly asthma, which has such a high prevalence rate.
El-Ezaby Pharmacy and the Egyptian Sovereign Fund have launched a pharmaceutical trade firm. With its current pharmacies and technical know-how in this industry, the El Ezaby Pharmacy will benefit the new business.
In order to provide services to more than 500 pharmacies nationwide, starting with the El Ezaby chain of pharmacies, which has more than 250 branches nationwide, the TSFE and B Investments plan to inject further funds into the company over the course of the next two years.
In order to increase operational effectiveness and customer satisfaction, the partners also hope to make use of cutting-edge technical advancements to offer a wide range of digital services.
The TSFE consistently demonstrates its capacity to forge alliances with the Egyptian and international private sectors in a variety of industries, which increases the likelihood of investment in strategic sectors that have a positive societal impact by offering prestigious services at a fair price and enhancing the standard of services as a whole.
The partnership’s goal is to make high-quality, reasonably priced health care services available to everyone, with a focus on the governorates that most need it. It also wants to take advantage of the sector’s potential for growth, which includes a wider geographic distribution and deeper technical empowerment.
Being the primary technical partner and holding the greatest interest in the new firm, El Ezaby Pharmacy’s knowledge in this area is something it is eager to take advantage of.
The El Daba Holding Group’s Gennecs group, which includes Egyptian pharmaceutical company Gennecs Pharmaceuticals, opened GennVax, its first multi-vaccine manufacturing facility in Egypt, along with a vaccine research facility and a strain bank that will house various African virus strains.
GennVax is part of the Gennecs group and has a full production cycle. GennVax will begin manufacturing its vaccines, which include those for hepatitis A and B, polio, the human papillomavirus, and many more, in accordance with Egypt’s national immunisation programme.
It is projected that this factory would completely transform the vaccine market in the entire MENA area and will be the largest vaccine manufacturing facility in the region.
This is due to the hub-like role that GennVax will play in meeting the demand for pandemic and seasonal vaccinations throughout Africa and the MENA region. Over the past few years, the pharmaceutical business in their country has undergone a paradigm shift.
They have managed a few multinational corporations throughout my career, and they can attest to the fact that everyone is currently spinning off their cash cows, which are essentially the traditional pharmaceutical products, and investing more money into biotech products like oncology medications, vaccines, hormones, and other items made from living cells.
The potential for cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is enormous, particularly in the commercial sector, as demonstrated by Jamjoom Pharma’s investment in Obour City.
Jamjoom has been in the Saudi Arabian industrial sector for more than 25 years and exports its goods to roughly 30 nations worldwide.
Astellas’ Cairo office reiterates the company’s steadfast belief in strengthening its community ties as part of its long-term commitment to Egypt. As a result, Astellas will be better able to meet unmet medical requirements, support the local healthcare system, and hasten the availability of cutting-edge therapies.
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The South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) on 09 July at the Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria.
This MOU between SAHPRA and EDA will allow for crucial collaboration and engagement on mutual reliance for pharmaceuticals, biological products, and medical devices
