Hikma Pharmaceuticals, a multinational group, recently opened its chemical plant for oncology active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) specialised in producing effective raw materials for cancer medications.

The plant was inaugurated by King Abdullah II, who underscored the company’s role in providing thousands of job opportunities for qualified Jordanians. He highlighted the contributions Hikma made to the economy and the labour market across the Kingdom, at all its manufacturing sites.

The King was given a tour of the new plant and briefed by Dr Yusuf Al-Khayyat, director general of the new plant, on its goals mainly providing a sustainable source of the vital ingredients needed for cancer medications.

He was also given a brief review about Hikma Pharmaceuticals by Mazen Darwazah, chief executive officer and president of Mena and Emerging Markets at Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

“Thirty-six years ago, Hikma Pharmaceuticals started manufacturing pharmaceutical products, as a local emerging industry fulfilling part of the national pharmaceutical market’s needs,” said Darwazah.

“Today, it’s a Jordanian company marketing its products worldwide, owning 27 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, contributing to over 7 per cent of the national exports and holding a 12 per cent share in the Jordanian pharmaceutical market.”

Hikma has become the first company to establish a world class oncology API plant in the Mena region, a statement said. The latest expansion finalizes the production cycle of oncology products.

Designed with state-of-the-art technology (Isolators Technology) to comply with local and global registration requirements, the oncology API plant is a significant frontward integration that will add great value to the manufacturing capabilities of the of the company and will reduce Hikma’s dependency on external parties. – TradeArabia News Service