Emzor Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to construct an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) facility in Sagamu, Ogun State, valued at $23 million (approximately N25 billion) to combat malaria prevalence in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
In a joint statement by Kunle Faloye, Head of Marketing and Strategy, and Uzoma Ezeoke, Executive Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, the establishment of the API plant signifies a crucial step towards enabling local production of essential pharmaceutical ingredients essential for manufacturing anti-malarial drugs.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the anti-malarial supply chain and enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity on the continent, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3’s objective of ensuring healthier lives for all.
The API facility’s focus on producing ingredients for anti-malarial pharmaceuticals, including those for Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy, underscores its contribution to maternal health and financial inclusion.
Upon completion, the facility will be the first anti-malarial API manufacturing plant in Nigeria and Africa, with an annual production capacity of 400 metric tonnes of quality APIs, significantly bolstering the continent’s efforts against malaria.
Last October, during the EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a 14 million Euros funding to Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited for the project. This funding aims to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported APIs and facilitate the production of affordable and high-quality anti-malarial drugs.
Emzor Pharmaceuticals has also partnered with India’s Mangalam Drugs and Organics Limited for technology transfer training, testing, and initial production at the site, further enhancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
