Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) signed an offtake agreement with Sudair Pharma Company (SPC) and Sanofi, the global healthcare company, to localize the production of key insulin types in Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was signed during the Global Health Exhibition in the presence of the Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, the Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih, and senior officials from the companies, a recent statement revealed.

Under this agreement, SPC and Sanofi will establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Kingdom to produce Sanofi’s SoloStar insulin pens and advanced insulin products. The facility will also provide delivery, device assembly, and packaging services.

Sanofi will transfer its technical expertise and global knowledge in biological technologies to SPC for full production in Saudi Arabia.

This partnership aims to reduce the burden of importing medicines, raise local content toward the localization of essential biopharmaceutical industries, and enhance economic diversification.

Fahad Al Shebel, CEO of NUPCO, said: “Through our partnerships with Sanofi and Novo Nordisk, NUPCO is taking a pivotal step in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. By localizing the production of key insulin types, we are not only ensuring a reliable supply of critical medications but also advancing the Kingdom’s goal of building a resilient, self-sufficient healthcare system.”

Meanwhile, Niven Al-Khoury, General Manager of General Medicines for Saudi Arabia and Gulf Countries at Sanofi, commented: “We are proud to sign a pivotal agreement with NUPCO to transfer technology and knowledge and localize insulin production in partnership with Sudair Pharmaceuticals.”

On his part, Yasser Alobaidaa, CEO of SPC, said: “This collaboration is a significant move towards enhancing the Kingdom's pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and achieving self-sufficiency in vital medicines. This agreement not only reduces reliance on importing medicines but also serves as a cornerstone for strengthening national drug security.”

It is worth mentioning that NUPCO signed another offtake agreement with Nova Nordisk during the exhibition to localize the manufacturing of three types of insulin in Saudi Arabia.

The Global Health Exhibition 2024 takes place in Riyadh from 21 to 23 October, with the participation of over 1,200 exhibiting brands from more than 40 countries.