February 4, 2009
Swiss Vice President Leuthard Kicks Off Novartis First Export Batch To International Markets
Cairo, February 4, 2009 – H.E. Doris Leuthard, the Swiss Vice President and Federal Councillor for Economic Affairs, visited Novartis headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Amiria today, accompanied by H.E. Charles-Edouard Held, the Swiss ambassador in Cairo. They were welcomed at Novartis by Dr. Alexandre Jetzer, Board Member of Novartis AG, Ali Toker, President of Novartis Egypt and Dr. Hermann Stockinger, PharmOps Site Head.
Leuthard toured the manufacturing facility, which was inaugurated early last year following an LE 80 million upgrade and expansion to become a leading multinational pharmaceutical production center in Egypt. The 80,000 square meter facility can now produce up to 75 million packs in 2009.
“We are thrilled that Councillor Leuthard is here today to witness the roll out of the first consignment to be exported from our global production center. This first batch is headed for Nigeria while the next will go to Venezuela, Chile, Brazil and Switzerland," said Toker. The manufacturing facility, established in 1962, locally produces products for its three divisions: Novartis Pharma, Consumer Health and Sandoz generics. The production covers important therapeutic areas such as Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Metabolism, Gastroenterology, Diabetes, Central Nervous System, Allergy and Cold, Arthritis and Bone.
"There is a continuous improvement in the investment climate in Egypt and a strong support from the government to increase exports,” said Dr. Jetzer. Egypt has the potential to become the biggest hub for the pharmaceutical industry in the region. A healthy investment climate and an increasing improvement in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection will encourage further investment, added Jetzer.
Novartis participated yesterday, February 3, 2009, in the IPR Forum held by the Swiss Egyptian Businessmen Association (SEBA) and held under the auspices of HE Councillor Leuthard and H.E. Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Egyptian Minister for Trade and Industry. The forum, which was attended by companies representing the industries of pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and IT, explored the status of IPR protection in Egypt and its importance in promoting economic relations and increasing investment in Egypt.
“For the innovative pharmaceutical industry, IP rights are an essential element in protecting the patients while earning back the high risk investment of both time and money needed to bring innovative drugs to the market,” said Dr. Jetzer.
About Novartis Egypt
Novartis was established in Egypt in 1962 as a joint venture company between CIBA, GEIGY, Sandoz and Wander. In 1970 CIBA and GEIGY merged to become CIBA-GEIGY, merging in 1996 with Sandoz to form Novartis.
Novartis Egypt consists of the divisions of Pharma, OTC and Sandoz where over 1200 highly trained doctors, pharmacists, engineers, researchers and employees from other trades, Novartis Egypt associates work to provide innovative medicines, accessible generics, nonprescription medicines and preventive vaccines to the Egyptian people. One of the largest research-based multinationals in the world, Novartis currently has over 140 products under research and development. Novartis Egypt’s 80,000 square meter manufacturing facility exports medicines to Europe, Latin American and Africa. In 2007, Novartis invested $732,000 in research in cooperation with the National Cancer Institute and University Hospitals all over Egypt and is actively involved in corporate social responsibility programs.
About Novartis (global)
Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2008, the Group’s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5 billion and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 96,700 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world.
For further information please contact
Hanan Nayel, Head of Corporate Communications, Novartis Egypt.
+202 24567256
