Roche tech transfer to allow Eva Pharma to produce advanced immunosuppressants: Swiss pharma giant Roche and local meds firm Eva Pharma are set to localize the production of immunosuppressant medications for organ transplant patients under an MoU signed last week on the sidelines of Africa Health Excon, according to a joint press release (pdf). Production is set to take place at Eva Pharma’s manufacturing facility in Tenth of Ramadan city with the possibility of exporting to markets in Africa, the statement reads.

Why this is important: This joint project “will encourage technology transfer and the complicated know-how development of much-needed immunosuppressant medication which is important to improve the lives of patients who are undergoing organ transplants,” the companies said.

Background: There are some 42 registered centers for organ transplants in Egypt and the Nasser Medical Hospital will soon house the MENA region’s largest transplant center as part of the government’s renovation of the facility. Some 1.1k kidney transplant operations took place in Egypt in 2022.

It’s getting easier to become a donor:The ministry is currently working on a digital platform to allow people to register to become organ donors and the Justice Ministry has made it obligatory to register organ transplant operations in a bid to counter organ and human trafficking, the statement reads.

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