A significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the first Vital Medicine and Vaccine Factory of Opal Bio Pharma (OBP) in the Sultanate of Oman was marked today (Wednesday). The second phase groundbreaking ceremony was held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health.

The second phase of the factory for vital medicines and vaccines will be built on an area of 37,000 square meters in Khazaen Economic City at a cost of about OMR 60 million. The phase is scheduled to take 24 months.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that such project supports government visions of multi-sectorial economic diversification and promotes national aspirations of maintaining pharmacological security that is one of the vital national security pillars, noting that vaccine industry is of a strategic importance and would place the Sultanate of Oman on the global map of the vital and complex medicine production of international demand.

Countries worldwide are facing many challenges that impede access to life-saving medications, among which are scarcity of such drugs, incompatibility to quality and safety standards, or the increase of procurement costs. Therefore, domestic pharmaceutical industry leads to local pharmacological security, the statement pointed out.

In addition, the medical industry market is a promising sector that contributes to reducing import bills, not to mention that this type of health investment also helps to export to the countries of the region, in which this notion was encouraged at the Investment Lab in Health Sector, conducted by the Ministry of Health with the support of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit and Oman National Investment Program (Nazdaher) in last December.

Sa’ad Moosa Al Junaibi, chairman of the board of directors of OBP affirmed that this manufacturing plant is the first-of-its kind in the country and in the region as well.

He added that Opal Bio Pharma will provide a distinguished hub for pharmaceutical research and development that accommodates the outputs of scientific and medical universities. It will offer many job opportunities for young Omanis of various academic qualifications, in addition to providing drug security by reducing dependence on imports, especially in medical crises and disasters.

Pharmacist Khaled Kassar, member of the advisory board of directors of Opal Bio Pharma said that the first phase of the project represents in repackaging and releasing medicines before the end of the year 2023. This step is crucial for accelerating the completion of the second and final phase of full pharmaceutical manufacturing before the end of next year 2024.

He added that the factory will produce vital medicines, including vaccines and oncology and improving immunity treatments, and genetic therapies, knowing that these vaccines are in high demand in the market by governments and international organizations such as the World Health Organization, especially in health crises and disasters.

Pharmacist Kassar stressed that the process of manufacturing vital medicines and vaccines is subject to international specifications and standards that enables the company to export its products to all countries of the world.

Eng. Salim Al Dhahli, CEO of Khazaen Economic City stated that the vital medicines and vaccines factory is the first in the Khazaen Pharmaceutical City and targets the local and foreign markets, indicating that this project is the beginning of pharmaceutical projects in the city that include four projects with approximate investments of OMR 44 million.

Prominent localized industries in Pharma City in Khazaen include the production of insulin, human vital vaccines, veterinary medicines and vaccines, and the manufacture of medical supplies and dental implants.