Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), known as Merck & Co, Inc. in the US and Canada, has entered into manufacturing investment agreement with Pharma Pharmaceutical Industries (PPI) which enables PPI to exclusively manufacture many of the MSD medicines approved by the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SDFA) and distributed in the Kingdom and other Gulf countries. PPI was established in 2014 under the sponsorship of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, the previous Head of the Board of Saudi Industrial Property Authority and the current Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. The agreement with MSD is considered a game changer in the pharmaceutical industry and a major step forward in pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Kingdom. In line with Saudi "Vision 2030", PPI aims to increase pharmaceutical manufacturing in Saudi Arabia in order to boost pharmaceutical security and help diversify Saudi's economy through pharmaceutical exports. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility earned a certificate for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) from the Saudi Food & Drug Authority and received the necessary licenses to produce and package solid medicines (tablets and capsules), liquid medications and syrups to meet the growing demand in the Saudi health sector. It also includes a research laboratory employing qualified Saudi technicians to analyze and manufacture medicines according to international standards. MSD has conducted a series of training especially to Saudis in the different areas of pharmaceutical manufacturing throughout the preparation phases and will continue to do so as part of the quality assurance agreement between MSD and PPI. PPI Executive Director Dr. Wahaf Badai Al Dahasee said the collaboration with MSD reflected the shared principles of both companies. "PPI and MSD aspire to strengthen the innovative biopharmaceutical industry in the Kingdom and the Middle East region by implementing the highest quality standards. Our focus will be on manufacturing and marketing products to improve patient health," said Dr Al Dahasee. "This agreement aligns to the Saudi ‘Vision 2030' and the ‘National Transformation Program 2020' that is a part of the vision that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz initiated to raise the quality of the health system in the Kingdom. The agreement will support health services offered to citizens and residents of the Kingdom by providing effective medications for many chronic illnesses including diabetes, asthma, allergies, pain, infections and hepatitis." "The agreement will aid in transferring pharmaceutical manufacturing technology to the Kingdom, localize it to attain self-sufficiency in medication, and strengthen the national pharmaceutical industry to become more internationally competitive. Patients will benefit from the assured availability of innovative MSD medications," Dr Al Dahasee further said. Kevin Ali, MSD President for Emerging Markets, was pleased with the agreement, saying that the expanded presence of MSD in the Kingdom will lead to an increase in the number of medicines manufactured locally. "MSD has been investing in the local manufacturing for more than 15 years. The Kingdom's recent steps to raise intellectual property rights and regulatory procedures to a high standard were major factors in our decision to move ahead with this investment", Ali remarked. Ali noted that "this agreement reaffirms our focus on innovative solutions to combat diseases. In cooperation with our current and future partners in the region, we're well positioned to meet our patients' needs.» ‘Vision 2030' encourages the growth of a dynamic private sector and will drive investments in the health care sector," Ali pointed out. A special MSD management team has been appointed to pursue the opportunities of the Saudi "Vision 2030" in cooperation with PPI and other local partners and to ensure adherence to local manufacturing regulations.
