Abu Dhabi lays foundation to make anti-cancer generic drugs

Capt Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil and other officials at the ground-breaking ceremony of the pharmaceutical plant in Abu Dhabi. — Supplied photo

Abu Dhabi will manufacture generic pharmaceutical products to cure cancer and other ailments, in order to slash cost of treatment by up to 50 per cent, in coming few years.

Life Pharma, which is part of Abu Dhabi based VPS Healthcare group, is setting up the plant at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Industrial Zone. The project’s first two phases would be ready in 18-months, after which production will start, said Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Managing Director of VPS Healthcare in an interview with Khaleej Times.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil entered into healthcare industry with the Life Line Hospitals, which he setup five years ago. The group since then added another hospital in Musaffah and recently setup a brand new Burjeel Hospital in the city.

The managing director said that apart of manufacturing, the project would house a research and development facility also.

The facility will be a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical centre of excellence, combing latest technologies and world class expertise to contribute to the discovery of new cancer therapies.

By setting up a centre of excellence, Life Pharma together with the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH), aims to establish Abu Dhabi and the UAE on the world map of medical research.

The centre will follow international standards in line with globally recognised organisations, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US.

The new centre will be spread over 1.7 million-square foot plot of land in Kizad’s pharmaceutical and healthcare cluster and will contain four production facilities.

Alongside the cancer control and research facility, the other three will produce vaccines, sterile injections and oral solid dosage to be used in the treatment of illnesses, such as hepatitis and influenza.

“The new plant will be a game changer for the local and regional pharma industry,” he said.

Kizad is a perfect location to enhance our production palette and continue our ambitions to develop high quality products to drive improvements, especially in the treatment of cancer patients”, said Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, at the ground-breaking ceremony.

The project, which will be completed in phases, will cost Dh587 million in the five years.

Capt Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kizad added: “Today marks the beginning of a new era in Abu Dhabi’s and the UAE’s pharmaceutical landscape.”

According to Alpen Capital, the GCC healthcare market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 12 per cent to $69.4 billion by 2018 from an estimated $39.4 billion in 2013.

By offering cutting edge infrastructure and unprecedented intermodal connectivity, Kizad will provide Life Pharma with an excellent business platform to cater for this growing market.”

Dev Kumar Singh, President, Life Pharma, said:”Alongside the necessary infrastructure, we were looking for a location that provides us with excellent market access. Kizad’s comprehensive transportation network and close proximity to Khalifa Port will give us the opportunity to expand our brand on a local and international level.”

Besides the GCC region and Africa, Life Pharma will export through Khalifa Port to markets in Asia, Europe, as well as North and South America.

The oncology facility will be the first of the four facilities to be set up and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015 and operational in the following year.

— haseeb@khaleejtimes.com