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€48 million investment to boost production and distribution of generics to emerging markets

English Version :

€48 million investment to boost production and distribution of generics to emerging markets

A pharmaceutical company KELIX bio will be investing €48 million in a world-class manufacturing and distribution centre in Malta. This investment will be instrumental in its cause to develop and commercialize affordable specialty generics for emerging economies.

The investment, set to create 100 quality careers over the next three years, was announced by Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli during a visit at KELIX bio, accompanied by Malta Enterprise Chief Executive Kurt Farrugia and KELIX Chief Executive Hocine Sidi-Said.

KELIX bio is a specialty generic business that focuses on selected therapy areas and product forms of oncology, diabetes, anti-infectives and inhalers, injectables and biosimilars exporting to over 40 countries across the globe. The company acquired Italfarmaco SPA’s subsidiary Chemi Malta in Ħal Far, taking over its newly built world class, EU and US-FDA certified facility and intends to augment its labour force with at least 100 highly qualified professionals. Malta Enterprise was at the forefront to facilitate the takeover of Chemi Malta by KELIX bio.

Minister Miriam Dalli explained that Kelix is an example of investment that Malta wants to attract, whilst plan ahead to keep offering work opportunities and high-quality employment.

Minister Miriam Dalli said: “Innovation and cost leadership are today being put into action. The investment being carried out by KELIX bio, with the support of the CDC, the Development Partners International and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is an investment in citizens around the globe.

“This investment is also an investment in our country. We are truly developing Malta as the next biopharma manufacturing hub. It underpins our ability to attract direct foreign investments in high-value, technology driven sectors such as biopharmaceuticals.”

On his part, Kelix bio co-Founder and CEO Hocine Sidi-Said stated: “KELIX bio’s new centre in Malta will be instrumental in its mission to deliver low-cost affordable and quality drugs to jurisdictions historically deprived of access to such medications. Malta also offers a Freedom-to-Operate status that is very attractive to generic manufacturers. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Malta has remained an attractive destination for foreign investors enticed by incentives, a favourable tax regime and a friendly regulatory environment.”

Maltese Version :

Investiment ta’ €48 miljun biex tingħata spinta lill-produzzjoni u d-distribuzzjoni ta’ ġeneriċi lejn swieq emerġenti

Kumpanija tal-farmaċewtika KELIX bio se tkun qed tinvesti €48 miljun f’ċentru ta’ manifattura u distribuzzjoni ta’ klassi dinjija f’Malta. Dan l-investiment se jkun strumentali lejn l-għan tal-kumpanija li tiżviluppa u tikkummerċjalizza ġeneriċi affordabbli għall-ekonomiji emerġenti.

L-investiment, li se joħloq 100 karriera ta’ kwalità fit-tliet snin li ġejjin, tħabbar mill-Ministru għall-Enerġija, l- Intrapriża u l-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli Miriam Dalli waqt żjara f’KELIX bio, akkumpanjata mill-Kap Eżekuttiv tal- Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia u l-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ KELIX Hocine Sidi-Qal.

KELIX bio huwa negozju ta ġenerika speċjalizzata li jiffoka fuq oqsma ta’ terapija u forom ta’ prodotti ta’ onkoloġija, dijabete, anti-infectives u inhalers, injectables u biosimilars li jiġu esportati lejn aktar minn 40 pajjiż madwar id-dinja. Il-kumpanija akkwistat is-sussidjarja ta’ Italfarmaco SPA Chemi Malta f’Ħal Far, ħadet f’idejha l-faċilità tagħha ta’ klassi dinjija li għadha kif inbniet, u hija ċertifikata mill-UE u mill-FDA tal-Istati Uniti. KELIX bio beħsiebha żżid il-forza tax-xogħol tagħha b’mill-inqas 100 professjonist bi kwalifiki għolja. Il-Malta Enterprise ghenet b’mod attiv fil-process sabiex KELIX bio saru sidien ta’ CHEMI Malta.

Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli spjegat li KELIX huwa eżempju ċar ta’ investiment li Malta trid tattira, filwaqt li tippjana bil-quddiem biex tkompli toffri opportunitajiet ta’ xogħol u impjiegi ta’ kwalità għolja.

Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli qalet: “L-innovazzjoni u l-għaqal fis-settur finanzjarju illum qed jitpoġġew f’azzjoni. L-investiment li qed isir minn KELIX bio, bl-appoġġ tas-CDC, Development Partners International u l-Bank Ewropew għar-Rikostruzzjoni u l-Iżvilupp, huwa investiment fiċ-ċittadini madwar id-dinja.

“Dan l-investiment huwa wkoll investiment f’pajjiżna. Aħna tassew qed niżviluppaw lil Malta bħala l-hub li jmiss tal-manifattura fl-industrija tal-bijofarma. Dan l-iżvilupp jsaħħaħ il-kapaċità tagħna li nattiraw investimenti barranin diretti f’setturi ta’ valur għoli u mmexxija mit-teknoloġija bħal bijofarmaċewtiċi.”

Min-naħa tiegħu, il-ko-Fundatur u CEO ta’ Kelix bio Hocine Sidi-Said stqarr: “Iċ-ċentru l-ġdid ta’ KELIX bio f’Malta se jkun strumentali fil-missjoni tiegħu li jwassal mediċini bi prezz baxx u ta’ kwalità lil ġurisdizzjonijiet storikament imċaħħda minn aċċess għal mediċini bħal dawn. Malta toffri wkoll status ta’ Freedom-to-Operate li huwa attraenti ħafna għall-manifatturi ġeneriċi. Minkejja l-pandemija tal-Covid-19, Malta baqgħet pajjiż attraenti għall-investituri barranin imħeġġa minn inċentivi, rati tat-taxxa favorevoli u ambjent regolatorju amikevoli.”