🏭 The Egyptian pharma industry has evolved beyond robotic fill-and-finish operations into deep manufacturing and biotech localization. Recent data and corporate earnings reveal a radical pivot toward slashing the national pharma import bill. By localizing specialized segments — including oncology drugs, insulin, genetic vaccines, and pharmaceutical ingredients — Egypt is positioning itself as a regional manufacturing powerhouse.

Egypt has begun manufacturing targeted oncology treatments — a move requiring significant capital and long-term commitment. Eva Pharma has inaugurated a European-certified industrial complex with an annual capacity of 22 mn units — some 60k units/day — exceeding local demand and paving the way for exports. The company has developed 18 specialized oncology drugs, seven of which are already on the market, according to CEO Riad Armanious.

The lineup includes the first local biosimilar for a leukemia treatment — previously a USD 44 mn import bill — and a local alternative to the lung cancer drug Tagrisso, which costs USD 14.4 mn annually to import. Local production has slashed patient costs from c. EGP 200k to an average of EGP 57–59k for local alternatives, saving the state bns in subsidized healthcare and ins. costs, according to Armanious.

Eva Pharma has also inked a deal with Switzerland’s Roche to localize themanufacturing of immunosuppressants for organ transplant patients at its 10th of Ramadan facility, targeting exports to emerging African markets.

In collaboration with US pharma giant Eli Lilly, Eva Pharma is also producing InsulinGlargine locally. The project aims to turn Egypt from an importer of 6 mn doses annually to an exporter of 74 mn doses. The company has MoUs with 56 countries and targets USD 100 mn in insulin by 2030. Kuwait’s Ali Alghanim & Sons Group is also exploring setting up an insulin factory in Egypt in partnership with foreign firms.

AND- Egypt is doubling down on high-tech vaccines. In February, Eva Pharma partnered with France’s DNA Script and Belgium’s Quantum Biosciences to produce mRNA vaccines at an annual volume of 100 mn doses. Operations are expected to begin this year, initially serving the domestic market before venturing into exports. Once the tech transfer is complete, Egypt would be equipped to produce vaccines for any current or future viruses without needing sub-zero cold chain storage, Armanious tells us.

Egypt currently imports over 90% of its raw materials and active pharma ingredients (APIs), leaving the industry vulnerable to FX fluctuations and supply chain disruptions, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) head Ali El Ghamrawy told EnterpriseAM. Last week, Arab API broke ground on an EGP 7.7 bn (USD 165 mn) facility in the SCZone — the first of its kind in Egypt. The 96k-sqm plant is set to produce APIs and intermediates, with plans to export to India. A Chinese firm is currently in talks with the EDA to establish an additional local API plant, El Ghamrawy previously told us.

With the African pharma market expanding, Egypt has its eyes set on becoming a regional hub for raw materials. As of now, local API production covers only 8-10% of domestic needs, Eipico chairman Ahmed Kelani said, adding that he estimates the sector requires approximately 60 additional factories to fully bridge the gap.

The SCZone is increasingly positioning pharma as a pillar of its industrial strategy. In December, Ateco Pharma inaugurated the second and third phases of its Ain Sokhna facility, using advanced Swiss-German technology from Rommelag to double production capacity for intravenous solutions and injectable ampoules. The expansion, slated for full operational rollout in Q1 2024, cements Ateco’s position as Egypt’s leading exporter of medical solutions, with a footprint already spanning 13 countries.

Beyond Ateco, the SCZone is hosting a cluster of high-value projects, including the USD 220 mn GennVax vaccine and serum facility.

Looking ahead, Egypt’s pharma pipeline remains robust. The government has reportedly received inquiries from seven global pharma giants looking to expand locally this year, either by leveraging the Gypto Pharma (Medicine City) hub or via partnerships with domestic investors. These ventures are expected to bring in at least USD 500 mn in fresh capital to establish five new factories. While details on the firms and their production targets remain under wraps, the interest underscores Egypt’s growing appeal as a regional manufacturing base.

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