Merck launches production of its anti-diabetes medicine in Algeria

Merck launches production of its anti-diabetes medicine in Algeria

ALGIERS, Algeria, November 17, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ --

  • The unit will produce 500 million tablets of its anti-diabetes medicine in its various dosages.

  • Improved availability and better access to treatment of diabetes for Algerian patients.

Merck (MerckGroup.com), a leading science and technology company, today announced the commissioning of its medicine production unit for the treatment of both diabetes and high blood pressure. A joint venture project has subsequently been set up between the company and its partner, the Algerian laboratory Novapharm.

With an annual production capacity of 500 million tablets for the Algerian market, the production unit located in Bou Ismail, a remote village 40 km west of Algiers, will help increase national production capacity.

We are proud that today our medicines are produced by Algerians for Algerians

The investment is valued at 5 million euros and will enable Algeria to reduce the import bill for medicines.

"Our partnership with Novapharm will optimise our services for Algerian patients. It will establish improved access to quality medicines," said Mr. Bernd Reckmann, Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Management Board of Life Science and Performance Materials at Merck. "By sharing good manufacturing practices and transfer of technology and know-how, this alliance between Merck and Novapharm will have a positive impact on production capacity and the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Algeria."

"We are proud that today our medicines are produced by Algerians for Algerians, with a manufacturing and control process identical to that used at our sites in Europe," said Moncef Meklati, CEO of Merck in Algeria.

This partnership intends to improve the care of patients through increased availability of medicines in the local market. In the long term, it will also create 200 jobs.

For his part, Mr. Yassine Benamara, CEO of Novapharm Production, claims that this partnership has resulted in a transfer of technology and know-how to the benefit of Algeria. "This joint venture complies with the government guidelines which expect to fulfil national requirements to the tune of 70% thanks to local pharmaceutical production in 2016."

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Merck KGaA.

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About Merck 
Merck (MerckGroup.com) is a leading science and technology company in the healthcare, life science and performance materials sectors. Approximately 40,000 employees are working to develop technologies that improve daily life - biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer and multiple sclerosis, high-tech systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2014, Merck generated sales of 11.3 billion euros in 66 countries. 
Founded in 1668, Merck is the oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company in the world. The founding family retains a majority shareholding in the group of listed companies. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany retains the global rights to the name Merck and to the brand. The only exceptions are in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.