ADCAN Pharma inks technology transfer deal with Pinnacle Life Science for specialized oncology

UAE—ADCAN Pharma has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Pinnacle Life Science Private Limited, an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer and wholly owned subsidiary of Aarti Drugs Limited, to expand local production of specialised cancer medicines in the UAE.

Under the agreement, Pinnacle will license 12 oncology products to ADCAN Pharma. The companies will then undertake a phased technology transfer programme to support local manufacturing.

The initiative forms part of ADCAN Pharma’s efforts to strengthen the UAE’s capacity to produce complex and specialised medicines domestically.

The agreement was signed at ADCAN Pharma’s manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Hamdan Aldahmani, Chairman of ADCAN Pharma; Fokion Sinis, Chief Executive Officer of ADCAN Pharma; and Vishwa Savla, Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Life Science.

Representatives from the Emirates Drug Establishment and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi also attended the ceremony.

Aldahmani said the partnership supports the company’s commitment to pharmaceutical localisation and improving healthcare security in the UAE.

He added that increasing domestic production of critical medicines would strengthen the country’s ability to provide essential treatments to patients.

Focus on oncology medicines

The partnership will initially cover the launch of 12 oncology products, with technology transfer to follow.

ADCAN Pharma expects the arrangement to improve the reliability of oncology medicine supplies while expanding its ability to manufacture critical treatments locally.

The company also expects the partnership to support Day 1 launches of selected generic oncology medicines after their loss of exclusivity, allowing ADCAN Pharma to introduce products as soon as market exclusivity ends.

Sinis said the agreement would expand ADCAN Pharma’s oncology portfolio and establish a framework for transferring advanced manufacturing technologies.

“Collaborating with experienced international pharmaceutical partners is integral to scaling our commercial capabilities while bringing complex, life saving cancer therapies closer to patients across the UAE,” he said.

Technology transfer and manufacturing capacity

Savla said the partnership reflects a shared goal of improving access to affordable, high quality oncology medicines in the UAE and wider Middle East.

Under the first phase, the companies will combine ADCAN Pharma’s regional market knowledge and commercial capabilities with Pinnacle’s integrated active pharmaceutical ingredient to finished dose manufacturing platform and US Food and Drug Administration-approved manufacturing standards.

The companies will subsequently implement a structured technology transfer programme designed to support sustainable local pharmaceutical production.

The partnership also supports the UAE’s National Drug Policy and Operation 300bn, which seek to increase domestic industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

By transferring manufacturing technologies and expanding local production, the agreement is expected to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains.

Pinnacle Life Science, Aarti Drugs’ primary formulations business, will provide technical expertise while giving ADCAN Pharma access to its parent company’s active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing capabilities.

ADCAN Pharma operates three manufacturing facilities with an annual capacity of 500 million tablets and 80 million capsules.

The companies will use these existing capabilities and Pinnacle’s manufacturing expertise to support the production of specialised oncology medicines in the UAE.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.