Making high-quality medicines available at an affordable cost is a challenge, but to do so in an emerging area such as sub-Saharan Africa takes considerable effort. In April, Sandoz announced that through its German affiliate, 1A Pharma GmbH (1A Pharma), the company signed a partnership agreement with Cinpharm S.A. (Cinpharm), a Cameroon-owned and operated generic pharmaceuticals manufacturing company, for the local production of medicines for the Sub-Saharan African region. The partnership will allow 1A Pharma to share technical expertise and materials to support Cinpharm to increase local production of generic medicines in the country.
(The photo here shows the partnership signing celebrated by an official ceremony in the presence of the Cameroon Minister of Health and Sandoz officials.)
"We are very pleased at this opportunity to partner with Cinpharm," said Nick Haggar, Sandoz head of Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. "With this agreement, we will be able to further increase our ongoing commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa and pave the way for local production of high-quality, affordable medicines."
During the initial phase of the partnership and with the technical support of 1A Pharma, Cinpharm will undertake activities to ensure full compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. Sandoz will also supply Cinpharm with raw materials, including bulk active ingredient and packaging materials, to be used in local
production.
"We are very pleased to be partnering with one of the top generic companies in the world," said Celestin Tawamba, Cinpharm’s president of the Board of Directors and CEO. "And we are looking forward to the long-term partnership, investment, and commitment of Sandoz in Cameroon and Sub-Saharan Africa."
The construction of the Cinpharm production facility was completed in 2010 with support from the German development finance institution DEG (Deutsche Investitions-und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH), which finances private-sector investments in developing countries.
Sandoz is a division of the Novartis group, is a global provider of generic pharmaceuticals, offering products that are no longer protected by valid and enforceable third-party patents. Sandoz has a portfolio of approximately 1,000 compounds and sells its products in about 130 countries. Key product groups include cardiovascular medicines, anti-infectives, treatments for central nervous system and alimentary tract disorders, oncology and respiratory therapies, as well as medications for blood and blood-forming organ disorders. Sandoz develops, produces, and markets these medicines, along with pharmaceutical and biotechnological active substances.
