Pharma Pharmaceutical Industries & Biological Products (PPI), a prominent Saudi enterprise, and Koanna International FZ LLC, UAE (Koanna), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shilpa Medicare, have announced a definitive agreement to form a new joint venture company based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Leveraging their respective strengths, PPI will contribute its local market expertise, while the Shilpa Group will provide global R&D, manufacturing, and regulatory capabilities. The new limited liability company will be majority-owned by PPI (70 percent), with Koanna holding a 30 percent stake. The venture represents a significant step in Saudi Arabia's healthcare infrastructure and aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and localising strategic industries.

The partnership will be executed in two key phases to ensure a swift market entry and a robust long-term manufacturing strategy. In phase one, Shilpa Group will supply finished products in bulk for repackaging at the new JV company's state-of-the-art facility. This will ensure a rapid market entry for key products. Concurrently, PPI will be responsible for establishing this fully-equipped manufacturing facility with technical input from Shilpa Group.

In phase two, Shilpa Group will execute a full technology transfer of its manufacturing processes to the JV. This will empower the JV to commence local production of finished products. As part of the agreement, Shilpa Group will provide technical support for the transfer of the project site to the JV Company. PPI will be responsible for equipping the facility with all necessary infrastructure and packaging equipment to meet international standards. Shilpa Group will be responsible for preparing the complete regulatory registration dossier in compliance with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and will lead the process of obtaining the necessary Market Authorisation.

Wael B Aldahhasi, Chairman, PPI, said, “Partnering with Shilpa Group allows us to bring world-class manufacturing technology and expertise to the Kingdom. This initiative will accelerate our ability to meet the growing healthcare needs of Saudi Arabia with locally manufactured, high-quality medicines.”

Vishnukant Bhutada, MD of Shilpa Medicare, commented, “We are excited to partner with PPI. This JV combines PPI's local strength with Shilpa’s innovative technology to improve healthcare in the Kingdom. PPI is the ideal partner to make our products more accessible. This JV underscores our commitment to Saudi Arabia and will consolidate our presence across the MENA region.”