Sanofi has begun construction on its new Algerian facility and unveiled plans to work with the government to monitor the population’s health.
The French drug maker is investing nearly 70 million euros on the Sidi Abdellah plant which will become the largest Sanofi industrial site in Africa. It will have a production and distribution capacity of 100 million units a year, 80% of the volume distributed by Sanofi in Algeria and 133 skilled jobs will be created. Construction will take an estimated three years to complete.
A letter of intent has also been signed with the Algerian Health Minister for an agreement which will come into force before the end of the years to improve the screening and assessment of cardiovascular risk, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia and the evaluation of their common risk factors in the Algerian population together with influenza monitoring.
The deal aims to promote “the awareness, screening and therapeutic education of the Algerian public through a mobile medical clinic and aid in the training of health professionals”, said Sanofi. Chief executive Christopher Viehbacher said “”we are aware that drugs alone are not enough to fight cardiovascular diseases, which is why Sanofi, in collaboration with the health authorities, will be providing solutions for public prevention, screening and education”.
Sanofi has been present in Algeria for over 20 years and is the pharmaceutical market leader. The company has two manufacturing sites in the country, at Ain Benian and Oued S’mar.
