Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate, has acquired a minority stake in Dubai-based Lunatus, a Middle East healthcare turnkey solutions provider.

 

Lunatus is a market-leading turnkey solutions provider that handles regulatory, marketing, sales, distribution, and supply chain management for international pharmaceutical and medical device companies. 

 

Through the broad regional Lunatus network, Marubeni seeks to bridge the Japan-Middle East markets and will bring Japanese high-quality pharmaceuticals and medical devices to Middle East to accommodate the increasing demand in the region. 

 

Expanding business

Moreover, by leveraging their joint expertise, Marubeni and Lunatus intend to explore expanding the business across the other emerging markets including Asean and Africa. Marubeni has its healthcare and medical industry business network in China and the Asean countries. 

 

Eisuke Kamide, General Manager of Marubeni’s Healthcare and Medical Business Department, commented: “We will continue exploring opportunities in the Middle East pharmaceutical market. Marubeni is focused on the Mena market which has a large growth potential, and this transaction will enable us to expand our pharmaceutical and medical device business network from China to the Middle East and Africa. Through these efforts, we would like to reduce the healthcare disparity globally and regionally, bringing value to all patients, families and stakeholders.”

 

Dr Lina Kouatly, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lunatus, commented: “Over the last 19 years, we have built one of the largest regional pharmaceutical companies spanning the GCC and Levant regions. We are thrilled to partner with Marubeni in further consolidating and expanding our footprint as we explore unique growth opportunities regionally and into the Asian markets. This transaction presents a unique strategic opportunity to partner alongside Marubeni, a global conglomerate, in further growing the Lunatus brand.”

 

The fast-growing Middle East healthcare industry, driven by the increase of healthcare related expenditures from both the public and private sectors, fuels the interest of international companies looking to invest in this growing sector in Middle East in general and the UAE in particular.-- TradeArabia News Service