‘Nigeria to commence local production of active pharmaceutical ingredient’
Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited is set to soon set up a plant for the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in Nigeria, the Director, Strategy and Transformation, of the firm, Funke Asiru, has said. She disclosed this in Abuja during the Nigeria-EU Business Forum (NEUBF) organised by the European Union (EU) in Nigeria under the […]
Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited is set to soon set up a plant for the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in Nigeria, the Director, Strategy and Transformation, of the firm, Funke Asiru, has said.
She disclosed this in Abuja during the Nigeria-EU Business Forum (NEUBF) organised by the European Union (EU) in Nigeria under the EU Global Gateway, with the theme: “Investing in Jobs and Sustainable Future”.
API is the biologically active component of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that produces the intended effects. Example, an active ingredient to relieve pain is included in a painkiller.
She said the API plant was a significant development in the country’s health sector, noting that it would reduce the country’s reliance on imported medicines.
She further said that the project, which was being funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB), was expected to be operational by the end of the year, adding that it would produce APIs for a range of medicines, including those used to treat malaria and cancer.
She explained that the need for an indigenous API arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when events led to the closure of borders.
Recall that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu recently signed an executive order to boost local production of healthcare products.
Announcing the development, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, said, “Specified items contained in the new executive order include API, excipients, other essential raw materials required for manufacturing of crucial health products like drugs, syringes and needles, long-lasting insecticidal nets and rapid diagnostic kits.”