      First CPhI Middle East & Africa 2018 concludes in Abu Dhabi
Exhibition and conference held in UAE capital for the first time, welcoming more than 3,500 attendees
The first CPhI Middle East & Africa 2018, global pharmaceutical showcase to be held in Abu Dhabi, has concluded after welcoming 274 exhibitors and over 3,600 visitors, from 97 different countries.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, opened the inaugural CPhI Middle East & Africa 2018 on 3 September. Over three days, the event featured conference sessions, an exhibition and networking, themed to support attendees in capitalising on a regional pharmaceutical market that is set to reach values in excess of US$44 billion by 2020.
“CPhI was held in the Middle East for the first time to support the partnerships and business opportunities that underpin a multi-billion dollar regional market. The fantastic attendance, along with high-level delegates, visitors, exhibitors and speakers who attended this first edition, have highlighted the robust market that exists across the Middle East and Africa,†said Cara Turner, Brand Director, CPhI Middle East & Africa.
A leading-edge agenda of 19 high-level content sessions addressed the latest trends and developments in the region, highlighting market challenges, oncology innovations and the UAE’s pharma strategy.
The program also covered key market drivers, such as population growth, government investment and spending, and the influence of western lifestyles on obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
On day one, Dr Manel Chikh, CEO, Zaphyr Pharma, chaired the panel session entitled, “Latest innovations in oncology treatment: clinical research, screening and treatment and optimising the patient journeyâ€. She was joined on stage by Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General, Friends of Cancer Patients; Dr. Dominique Joubert, Co-founder & Head of Research, cancerREAD lab (formerly DECODE Lab); and Dr Sharif KULLAB, MD, Deputy Medical Director, International Cancer Research Group (ICRG).
However, the day was dominated by a high-level discussion focused on the UAE’s pharma sector, moderated by Firas Nabulsi, Business Development Director, Aspen Health Care.
Analysing the UAE’s future pharma strategy, panellists included: Ahmed Ebrahim, Associate Director, JLL; Jerome Carle, General Manager, Julphar; Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Asst. Undersecretary of Public Health Policy & Licensing, Ministry of Health & Prevention, UAE; Dr Magdy Fahmy, CEO, LIFE Pharma; and Marwan Abdulaziz, Managing Director, Dubai Science Park.
In the UAE in 2016, pharmaceuticals represented 16.3% of healthcare expenditure and 0.7% of GDP, reaching $2.6bn over the course of the year.
Pharmaceuticals also play a critical role in the Dubai Industrial Strategy, with focus on manufacturing to boost economies of scale, super-generics and nutraceuticals, or food supplements.
On day two of CPhI, Joe Henein, CEO, NewBridge Pharmaceuticals delivered a session identifying the key challenges to bringing innovations to market and, with an eye on Africa, Claudia Palme, MD at 55East moderated the session Sub-Saharan Africa: Market Outlook.
Sharing their outlooks, panellists Roshel Jayasundera, Global Head – Consulting, Axios; Nicolas Esmieu, Vice-President MEAP, IPS Pharma Switzerland; and Hitesh Upreti, CEO & Managing Director, Zenufa Laboratories (Tanzania) Limited, analysed the challenges and opportunities at the current time.
Additionally, themed elements of the show highlighted opportunities in Egypt’s AED12 billion pharma market and the growth prospects in Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest national pharma market.
Meanwhile, the exhibition focused on five distinct sectors:
- CPhI: Brings together buyers, manufacturers and suppliers of pharmaceutical ingredients
- FDF: Meet with manufacturers from every aspect of the finished dosage supply chain
- ICSE: Connects the pharma community with CRO and CMO companies and technologies
- P-MEC: Showcases the newest pharmaceutical machinery, equipment and technology providers
- InnoPack: Hosts the latest innovations in packaging, integrated solutions and drug delivery systems
The 274 exhibiting companies included prominent and pioneering pharma brands from across the world, such as Taiwan’s first bio-technology company, Bioteq; Magnasweet developer MAFCO Worldwide; and pharmaceutical manufacturer AuraCare.
AuraCare Director, Gurmeet Singh, said: “I can see CPhI Middle East & Africa growing significantly in the coming years. It is a crucial platform to forge connections with your customers, as well as to find new customers with whom you can plan to implement your future strategies.â€
Closer to home, Pharmax, the first Emirati company at Dubai Science Park to specialise in the development and commercialisation of therapeutic pharmaceuticals, was also in attendance.
Pharmax CEO Madhukar Tanna, said: “CPhI Middle East & Africa offers a very good opportunity to network and, at the same time, source new partners with whom we can expand our business activities. The calibre of attendees was also high with high representation from India, Africa and many other nearby territories.â€
With a series of events held in Europe, North America, Korea, China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia, globally CPhI brings together more than 100,000 pharmaceutical professionals every year.
About CPhI
CPhI drives growth and innovation at every step of the global pharmaceutical supply chain from drug discovery to finished dosage. Through exhibitions, conferences and online communities, CPhI brings together more than 100,000 pharmaceutical professionals each year to network, identify business opportunities and expand the global market. CPhI hosts events in Europe, North America, Korea, China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and co-locates with ICSE for contract services, P-MEC for machinery, equipment & technology, FDF for finished dosage formulations, InnoPack for pharmaceutical packaging and BioPh for biopharma. CPhI provides an online buyer & supplier directory at CPhI-Online.com.
The UBM (part of Informa PLC)annual schedule of Pharmaceutical events includes: CPhI, ICSE, P-MEC, BioPh and InnoPack Japan (18-20 April, 2018 at the Big Sight Exhibition Centre – Tokyo, Japan); CPhI, ICSE, FDF and InnoPack North America (24-26 April, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center – Philadelphia, USA); CPhI and P-MEC China (20 – 22 June, 2018 at SNIEC – Shanghai, China); CPhI Korea (28-30 August 2018, COEX, Seoul, Korea); CPhI Middle East & Africa (3-5 September, 2018 at the ADNEC – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates). BioLIVE (9-11, October, 2018 in Madrid); CPhI, ICSE, P-MEC, FDF and InnoPack Worldwide (9-11 October, 2018 at the IFEMA, Feria de Madrid – Madrid, Spain); CPhI & P-MEC India (3–6 December 2018 at the BEC and BKC Exhibition and Convention Centres – Mumbai, India); Pharmapack Europe (6-7 February, 2019 at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles – Paris, France); CPhI, P-MEC, ICSE, Labworld and Innopack South East Asia (6-8 March, 2018 at BITEC – hall 99 – Bangkok, Thailand).
About UBM (and parent company Informa)
CPhI is organised by UBM, which in June 2018 combined with Informa PLC to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world.
