In Alexandria, Glym pharmacy was established and started manufacturing in-house Aminophylline suppositories. *Aminophylline suppositories (highly effective and safe bronchodilators).
Scientific office Vitanco was launched, importing soft gelatin capsule drugs from RP Scherer Germany.
January 14th to be exact was the operative date of Pharco Pharmaceuticals, as a local manufacturer of soft gelatin capsules, and introducing other dosage forms and antibiotics for the first time in Egypt.
Establishment of R.P Scherer Egypt, in partnership with RP Scherer Corporation.
Establishment of Pharco Impex 93, which is the import, marketing, and distribution branch of Pharco in Romania.
Majority partner shares in Pharco Pharmaceuticals were acquired by Dr. Hassan Abbas Helmy.
In compliance with cGMP regulations at the time, a new separate Beta-Lactam facility was constructed to avoid cross contamination with other products.
Acquisition of Amriya Pharmaceuticals, EEPI (European Egyptian Pharmaceutical Industry) and Techno Pharma Egypt (a local soft gelatin capsules manufacturer).
To offer a wide range of pharmaceutical products to the Saudi Arabian market, Batterjee Pharmaceuticals KSA was established - after Pharco Pharmaceuticals joined with local competitor EIPICO and Batterjee Group in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Launch of Pharco B International, starting with a dedicated facility for the production of Cephalosporin antibiotics for local and international markets.
A separate Extension in Pharco B International for the production of water for injection in plastic ampoule.
An extension of the sterile, non-Ceph. At Pharco B International was established to produce small and large volume parenteral. A new, separate dedicated Hormone facility in Techno Pharma Egypt was established.
The launching of Gratisovir took place in April, as an affordable and efficient oral Hepatitis C virus treatment.
*Gratisovir (active ingredient is Sofosbuvir).
Gamal Esmat, M.D., Professor of Haepatology and Endemic Medicine at Cairo University and WHO viral hepatitis expert, presented advanced results of the abstract entitled: High Virologic Response Rate in Egyptian HCV-Genotype 4 Patients Treated with Ravidasvir (PPI-668) and Sofosbuvir: Results of a Large Multicenter Phase 3 Registrational Trial.
Dr. Gamal Esmat, representing Pharco, was the first Arab to present at the closing ceremony, where the major treatment protocols for the upcoming year are agreed upon.
Pharco established the first GMP compliant Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) factory in Egypt in 2015 starting in April 2016 with the production of Sofosbuvir with a non-infringing method. PBIC has a range of custom synthesis contracts with pharmaceutical companies including large tonnage production of APIs used in the treatment of HCV.
Accordingly, Pharco created the first API factory in Egypt (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) specialized in manufacturing of modern Hepatitis C therapies which are relatively affordable and efficient, all per cGMP requirements.
One million months’ worth of treatment was produced by Pharco pharmaceuticals, curing 500,000 patients in Egypt.
The Halel w Etamen was initiated, as a national screening plan aiming at covering the whole population. Up to this day 20,000 people were screened.
Pharco partnered with Prime Pharma to initiate Tour n' Cure, an international program for medical tourism. The program encourages patients worldwide to visit Egypt for a week to do all needed medical check-ups, have the treatment course as prescribed by the best doctors, and enjoy the beauty of Egypt, at less than 80% of the worldwide cost. Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, and Ahmed Hossam (Mido) are currently active program ambassadors.
Pharco and Presidio announced that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for Presidio’s HCV NS5A inhibitor PPI-668 for development and commercialization to treat HCV infection in Egypt. This exclusive license includes an opportunity for Pharco to expand its licensed territory to one or more additional countries in the MENA region. This licensing agreement provides Pharco with an opportunity to develop an effective, safe and affordable treatment for Egyptians with HCV infection,” said Dr. Sherine Helmy, BSc, MBA, DBA, Pharco Pharmaceuticals Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that PPI-668, in combination with other therapeutic agents offers another potential path to treat and, hopefully, cure patients.”
IHEPC a local initiative with the mission of improving the health & the quality of life of people at risk for Hepatitis C by providing accessible preventive health services, assisting people affected by Hepatitis through planning and executing on-ground campaigns that provide awareness, prevention measures, screenings, treatment options and patient counseling with the help university students and volunteers
AfriCan, the alliance of Foundations in Africa affiliated with African top influencers to start a movement, to help raise awareness about Hepatitis C to prevent new patients from getting infected, and spread the awareness of the cure. We have a rare chance to send a message to the whole world: Africa is the first continent in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C.
In 2018 Techno Pharma Egypt released 25 new products for women's hormonal care and treatment, addressing women of all ages in three main therapeutic areas which are contraceptives, hormonal support, and infertility. The company's current production capacity is 120,000 to 150,000 tablets per hour
Sofosbuvir has been prequalified by the World Health Organization as treatment for Hepatitis C.
On the 18th of December 2018, European Egyptian Pharmaceuticals Industries Co. was granted prequalification by the WHO for Sofosbuvir. The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded prequalification for SOFOSBUVIR 400 mg Tablets manufactured at the European Egyptian Pharmaceutical Industries (EEPI) Factory for the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
Sherine Helmy, CEO, Pharco said, “Today’s WHO prequalification for our Sofosbuvir 400 mg tablets is an important step in ensuring that HCV patients in developing countries are cured from HCV. PHARCO Pharmaceuticals is a major player in making the Egyptian dream “Egypt free from HCV by 2020” and the African dream “Africa free from HCV in 2025” come true. Access to medicine was a great challenge; it was our duty to overcome this challenge through providing the world with an affordable and accessible high quality treatment option.”