Cytopharma, the Newborn of the Pharmaceutical Industry
12 June 2015
Read by 3296 persons
Cytopharma laboratory, the first pharmaceutical production unit in Tunisia, Africa and the Arab world, specialized in injectable generic oncology products, located in the industrial zone of Hammam Zriba - Zaghouan governorate, has just been created and will be officially inaugurated on June 13th by Saïd Aïdi, Minister of Health.
During a visit to the site by representatives of the national press, yesterday, Ali Chtourou, CEO of Cytophama - accompanied by Aida Chekir Khemiri, technical director, Habib Sifi, sales and marketing director and Amyen Bougacha, administrative and financial director - announced that this new unit, compliant with European standards of good manufacturing practices, obtained its approval in May 2015.
It will be operational from next week, pending the obtaining of the marketing authorization (AMM).
With a total investment of 27 million dinars, Cytopharma has created 31 new jobs, 50% of which are for personnel from the Zaghouan region and 73% of whom are university graduates.
Former sales and marketing director at Dar Essaydali laboratory in Tunisia, Mr. Chtourou indicated that this laboratory has a manufacturing area for injectable generic oncology products (Process), a quality control laboratory (physico-chemistry and microbiology) and seven water and air production units, subject to high hygiene security.
"Our strategy was differentiation from other laboratories, given the considerable incidence of cancer in Tunisia. Every year, 15,000 new cases are reported, including 8,000 deaths, compared to 14 million new cases worldwide, including eight million deaths (WHO figures). Knowing that cancer is the second leading cause of death in Tunisia and worldwide, after heart disease. As for oncology, it represents 10% of the world market. In Tunisia, it represents 15% of the market. For the consumption of oncology drugs, Tunisia represents one per thousand of the market, for a cost of 1500 million dinars," specified Mr. Sifi.
Future prospects
For the first year on the market, Cytopharma plans to manufacture eight products with two or three doses each, depending on market needs.
It also plans to reach 40 jobs by the end of 2015 and 80 employees within the next three years. It is counting on a production of one million vials per year for the local market and for export.
In a second phase, it will launch awareness campaigns to fight against cancerous diseases.
By 2020, this laboratory will aim to manufacture all types of oncology products. After liquid injectable products, the first to be marketed, it will be the turn of lyophilized injectable products.
Note that Cytopharma company, created on June 20, 2011, with a share capital of around 10.4 MDT which will be increased by the end of this year to 12 MDT, operates with three SICARS, 20 individual shareholders, as well as German and Polish technical partners.
Imen Zine.
Leconomistemaghrebin.com
Published on June 11, 2015.
Posted online on June 12, 2015.
During a visit to the site by representatives of the national press, yesterday, Ali Chtourou, CEO of Cytophama - accompanied by Aida Chekir Khemiri, technical director, Habib Sifi, sales and marketing director and Amyen Bougacha, administrative and financial director - announced that this new unit, compliant with European standards of good manufacturing practices, obtained its approval in May 2015.
It will be operational from next week, pending the obtaining of the marketing authorization (AMM).
With a total investment of 27 million dinars, Cytopharma has created 31 new jobs, 50% of which are for personnel from the Zaghouan region and 73% of whom are university graduates.
Former sales and marketing director at Dar Essaydali laboratory in Tunisia, Mr. Chtourou indicated that this laboratory has a manufacturing area for injectable generic oncology products (Process), a quality control laboratory (physico-chemistry and microbiology) and seven water and air production units, subject to high hygiene security.
"Our strategy was differentiation from other laboratories, given the considerable incidence of cancer in Tunisia. Every year, 15,000 new cases are reported, including 8,000 deaths, compared to 14 million new cases worldwide, including eight million deaths (WHO figures). Knowing that cancer is the second leading cause of death in Tunisia and worldwide, after heart disease. As for oncology, it represents 10% of the world market. In Tunisia, it represents 15% of the market. For the consumption of oncology drugs, Tunisia represents one per thousand of the market, for a cost of 1500 million dinars," specified Mr. Sifi.
Future prospects
For the first year on the market, Cytopharma plans to manufacture eight products with two or three doses each, depending on market needs.
It also plans to reach 40 jobs by the end of 2015 and 80 employees within the next three years. It is counting on a production of one million vials per year for the local market and for export.
In a second phase, it will launch awareness campaigns to fight against cancerous diseases.
By 2020, this laboratory will aim to manufacture all types of oncology products. After liquid injectable products, the first to be marketed, it will be the turn of lyophilized injectable products.
Note that Cytopharma company, created on June 20, 2011, with a share capital of around 10.4 MDT which will be increased by the end of this year to 12 MDT, operates with three SICARS, 20 individual shareholders, as well as German and Polish technical partners.
Imen Zine.
Leconomistemaghrebin.com
Published on June 11, 2015.
Posted online on June 12, 2015.
