Chairperson of the Arab Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Company (ACDIMA),Dr. Alfat Ghorab, announced that the company has successfully localized the production of 100 to 120 imported medicines between 2017 and 2024. This includes critical drugs such as long-acting penicillin, antibiotics, and Parkinson’s treatments. Notably, ACDIMA operates the only hormonal drug production facility in the Middle East.
ACDIMA’s strategy involves localizing both the production of imported medicines and the manufacturing of raw materials. Since 2017, the company has produced drugs to fill market shortages, including contraceptives, corticosteroids, and treatments for chronic diseases. Additionally, ACDIMA has begun locally producing key pharmaceutical ingredients, such as “cephalosporin,” a widely used antibiotic.
To address raw material shortages, ACDIMA collaborates with global pharmaceutical firms for local production supervision, with a 10-year plan to train Egyptian professionals. The company has also developed a cancer drug and biologic production facility, which is set to open in 2025. This factory will reduce the cost of oncology treatments by 40-60% compared to imports.
ACDIMA produces 18 million insulin units annually, meeting 80% of domestic demand. Following disruptions in global supply chains, the company has ramped up production to one million units per month in coordination with the Ministry of Health. ACDIMA exports to 80 countries, including the UK and South America.
Dr. Ghorab highlighted challenges in the industry, underscoring the importance of increasing local production and export support to strengthen Egypt’s pharmaceutical sector.
To foster innovation, ACDIMA has linked research with production, establishing the ACDIMA Award for applicable pharmaceutical research. Partnerships with research centers have led to the development of new drug formulations, advancing Egypt’s pharmaceutical capabilities.
