Kouidri Urges Pharma Technology Transfer for Partners

Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry Ouacim Kouidri recently highlighted the sector's commitment to supporting economic operators who invest in Algeria, with a particular emphasis on fostering industrial partnerships and facilitating the transfer of modern expertise and technology. This initiative aims to bolster national capabilities within the pharmaceutical domain. The minister conveyed these points during a meeting in Algiers with the Swiss Ambassador to Algeria, Marion Weichelt Krupski, and a delegation from the Novartis group, a company specializing in innovative medicines and gene therapies.

The discussions during the meeting focused on avenues to strengthen industrial collaborations, exchange expertise, and enhance national capacities in the pharmaceutical industry. Specific attention was given to Novartis's global and local activities, including its expertise in developing innovative medicines, scientific research, and advanced biotechnologies, particularly in gene therapies. Minister Kouidri underscored the strategic significance of the Algerian Institute of Cell and Gene Therapy project, an initiative overseen by the public group Saidal in collaboration with international firms.

This national project is designed to ensure access to advanced therapeutic technologies in Algeria and improve patient care in line with the latest scientific and medical innovations. Ouacim Kouidri further explained that the advancement of gene therapies offers promising prospects for treating many presently incurable pathologies, thereby adding substantial value to healthcare services. This development is expected to broaden access to modern therapeutic technologies, reinforce national health sovereignty, and ultimately enhance the health services available to citizens.

For her part, the Swiss Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the quality of bilateral relations between Algeria and Switzerland, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector. She reiterated Switzerland's interest in deepening cooperation and expanding partnership opportunities, specifically through initiatives involving innovative medicines, advanced therapeutic technologies, and technology transfer.