JEDDAH — The pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is split into 24% international companies, 41% top 10 companies and 35% local companies. Due to this promising future, Boehringer Ingelheim collaborated with Cigalah and Tabuk Pharma, the biggest local pharma company, to sign a contract in 2014 to begin local manufacturing in the Kingdom, which was supported and authorized by Saudi FDA and Ministry of Health. "This is a major milestone since it would help our company in establishing our local presence and communicating the scientific technology in Saudi Arabia, which would eventually create jobs for Saudis," KSA Country Manager Mohamed Bayoumi told Saudi Gazette. He added that their contract includes 26 products from Boehringer Ingelheim for diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. "We started with secondary packaging for products and proceeded into the second stage which is primary packaging and will eventually begin full-fledged manufacturing," he said. In 2015, the contract strengthened Boehringer Ingelheim's supply chain and therefore, their products became widely available across all the private sectors, MOH and military sector. With over 37 partners all over the Middle East, Boehringer Ingelheim has always shown strong commitment and support to innovation and growth in the Kingdom. On a global level, Boehringer Ingelheim will invest approximately €11 billion in Research and Development in the coming 5 years which represents 21% of the company's income. This will discover next generation of breakthrough medication, with special focus in the field of oncology and diabetes, which is highly incident in the Kingdom which is the third highest country worldwide with diabetes case. "We also offer a lot of awareness activities in collaboration with MOH and private organizations, especially during Ramadan on how to manage diabetes while fasting and control dietary habits," he said. "We have also started collaboration with Saudi FDA to strengthen medical research in Saudi Arabia in order to enhance capabilities of doctors." Presently, local production of medicines in Saudi Arabia is only 15% while the remaining 85% is imported. Major companies need to increase localized manufacturing and Boehringer Ingelheim seeks to expand partnership with local companies who want to increase investment to enhance local manufacturing. The company's main goal is to improve patients' quality of life as well as expansion of job opportunities and ultimately contribute in the overall development of the pharmaceutical sector.
