Thursday 26 / September / 2024
Muscat : With an investment of more than OMR20 million, Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries factory has been built on an area of 12,000 square metres.
The Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries Factory was opened in the Rusayl Industrial Area and constructed in accordance with Ministry of Health and FDA specifications.
The factory is also compliant with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is the first-of-its-kind in the Middle East to manufacture specialised medicines and medicines for rare diseases.
The opening of the factory, which aims to enhance pharmaceutical security in the Sultanate of Oman, was sponsored by Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health.
Dr. Khalfan bin Saif Al-Hassani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries Factory, said that the factory will localise the pharmaceutical industries in the Middle East and North Africa, and is the result of diligent efforts, continuous work and careful planning.
He said that that the idea has become a reality with a vision and a mission that we seek to achieve.
Hamad bin Saif Al Hassani, a member of the Board of Directors of the Menagin Pharmaceutical Factory, said: "The factory represents a beacon of hope and evidence of the collective commitment to improving the lives of patients suffering from rare and chronic diseases. It is the first-of-its-kind in the region, and will contribute to revolutionising the pharmaceutical industry by providing innovative and life-saving medicines. Pointing out that the total cost of the project is expected to reach more than OMR30 million riyals in the next stages.
Al Hassani added: "The establishment of the factory came to achieve a set of goals, including drug security, strengthening the national economy, creating job opportunities that contribute to developing human capital, and being a leading centre for scientific research, innovation, transfer of advanced technology, and attracting skilled minds, ideas, and competencies."
Al Hasani praised the continuous support from government agencies working closely to advanced for creating an encouraging environment for industries, and cooperation between the public and private sectors to advance progress and ensure the achievement of common goals.
Al Hasani pointed out that the Foundation is working on a number of projects that will be launched soon, including a qualitative and unique project in the field of cell and gene therapy, which is the first of its kind in the region, which makes it proud to be a pioneer in providing advanced therapeutic techniques targeting incurable and chronic diseases.
Al Hasani also pointed out that among the projects is the opening of the Ezz Pharmaceutical Industries Factory, which specializes in intravenous solutions and many other medicines consumed in the Sultanate of Oman. It will open in the last quarter of this year in Nizwa.
Al Hasani explained that the first part of the factory's name came from "MENA" in reference to the Middle East and North Africa region, which is the region in which the organisation provides its services and contributes to its economic and health development. The second part, “Gen” is an abbreviation of the word “genes,” which reflects the organisation’s commitment to genetic technology and innovation in the fields of biomedicine.
For his part, Dr. Mohammad bin Hamdan Al Rubaie, Director General of Pharmaceutical affairs and Drug Control at the Ministry of Health, stressed the importance of this factory, especially with the medicines it will produce, including cancer and rare diseases. It is a great addition not only to the Sultanate of Oman but to the region as a whole.
Al Rubaie said:" This project is part of many projects being implemented within 15 projects, including pharmaceutical and medical supplies factories and raw materials, expressing his hope to open two additional projects with intravenous solutions, the first of their kind in the Sultanate of Oman."
Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries will produce medicines specialised in genetic diseases, metabolic diseases, hereditary blood diseases, kidney diseases, and the production of various types of cancer medicines, and will cover part of the needs of the health sector in the Sultanate of Oman and the region.
The factory contains a development and innovation centre, which is also the first of its kind in the Middle East and is ready to embrace preliminary studies and research and development studies. To reinforce this principle, a partnership was signed with Sultan Qaboos University, represented by the Centre for Medical Research and Permanent Cooperation. This partnership was initiated through a feasibility study of the drug discovery and development process in the Sultanate of Oman.
Through its large investments and strategic partnership, Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries seeks to provide advanced pharmaceutical solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life and enhancing health security in the region.
The opening of this factory comes as an affirmation of the government’s role in supporting the medical industries sector, which with its advanced policies has created an encouraging environment for industries, and an emphasis on the cooperation of the public and private sectors in advancing progress and achieving common goals.
The opening of the factory was attended by a number of Their Excellencies, Ministers, Their Highnesses and Excellencies, and officials.
