| Foreign | Local News | |
Europe revamps
pharmaceutical stra
By Camilia Rezali
In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the
European Community (EU) is focusing on
ways to bring the production of medicines and
pharmaceutical ingredients back to Europe to
avoid a future recurrence of shortages of medical
supplies.
“It has become abundantly clear that we need
to work towards the need for increasing the
production of medicines and innovation within
the EU,” said the European Cypriot Commissioner
for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakidou, while
speaking before the European Parliament’s health
committee (ENVI).
According to Euractive Event Report, the
overall goal of the initiative is to help ensure
Europe’s supply of safe and affordable medicines
meets patients’ needs and support the European
pharmaceutical industry’s innovation efforts
locally and internationally.
The roadmap reviewed Orphan and Paediatric
Regulation, legislation on fees for the European
Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the basic
pharmaceutical legislation which dates back to
2001.
Kyriakides called the roadma
document”, reminding that the
its evolving stage of this pandem
almost experimenting with the
Through a letter written with
Commissioner Thierry Breton, s
industry to increase the produc
medicines in the wake of the co
Nevertheless, the problem is
some protectionist measures pu
countries such as export bans o
used for the treatment of Covid-
Currently, European pharma
have their products manufactur
70 per cent of the underlying ac
come from China. On May 12, Sc
reported that the EU was curren
procurement scheme to source
equipment, protective masks an
monitoring supplies of essentia
“From the beginning, my cal
States has been one of solidarity
No one can deal with COVID-19
concluded.
The pharmaceutical strategy
the end of 2020. — The Health
Eli Lilly’s new
diabetes drug plant
A location within the old GlaxoSmithKline
campus, which is now known as Parmer, has been
selected by Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly for a
massive manufacturing complex worth about $475
million (RM2 billion).
The pharmaceutical company did not reveal
a specific location of the manufacturing plant.
Lilly only disclosed plans to build a complex for
manufacturing diabetes drugs. The centre may open
more than 460 job opportunities in the Triangle
area.
Viral Tech Wire News reported a spokesperson
for Parmer said Lilly paid $36 million for the
construction of several buildings across toe 110-acre
site.
“Multiple buildings for a comprehensive
pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, including
a quality control laboratory are planned,” added
Parmer, which will act as the master developer.
Senior vice-president and president of
Manufacturing Operations for Lilly, in a statement,
Myles O’Neill stated: “We are excited to announce
our new manufacturing site in Durham.
“Recruiting talented engineers, scientists and
operations personnel for our facilities is important
to Lilly, and we appreciate the expertise and unique
amenities that Parmer has to offer our future
employees at the site.”
Lilly said the plant would take over five years
to complete. Research Triangle has approved a Job
Development Investment Grant of up to $8.7 million
for Lilly. The Job Development Investment Grant
(JDIG) will rebate some of the state withholding
taxes on the new jobs to the company if it meets
yearly employment and investment targets over the
next 12 years.
Besides that, Durham country will allocate
incentives to the company. A customised training
programme also will be offered by Durham
Technical Community College for the plant’s
workers. The new jobs will pay
of more than $72,000 a year, offi
slightly higher than Durham Co
$71,750.
The pharmaceutical compan
the plant up and running by 202
spokesman. GlaxoSmithKline (G
20-building campus to Parmer i
“Parmer RTP was established
high-quality office and laborato
with unparalleled amenities, al
environment where ideas thriv
happens,” said Bart Olds, head o
management at Parmer Innova
announcement.
“Lilly’s purchase is the latest
this vision coming to fruition. W
welcome them to the neighbou
forward to witnessing the ideas
this environment that’s ideally
work-life integration.” — The He