Pharmaceutical
Sector’s key figures
companies operating in the sector in 2023
employees in 2023
of the GDP is generated by the sector
of exports in 2024, with an average growth rate of 14%
A WIDELY DEVELOPED INDUSTRY
A wide range of national and international companies are currently operating in Tunisia’s pharmaceutical sector
Snapshot of major international players operating in Tunisia’s Pharmaceutical Sector
SANOFI is the first international pharmaceutical group that has invested in an operational production unit in Tunisia (1992) SANOFI’s production plant is currently employing more than 400 employees and producing nearly ~ 32 million units per year The French drugmaker has also built a state-of-the-art distribution center in Tunisia to help support the affiliate’s export activities towards West Africa where 6% of its local production in Tunisia is shipped yearly
PFIZER is an American pharmaceutical company that represents the first global biopharmaceutical group and the first global investor in life sciences thanks to its 75 production sites. PFIZER settled in Tunisia in 1964 through a liaison office. Since then, the company has invested in a local manufacturing plant in Ben Arous (in partnership with local pharma company Siphat) as well as in a distribution platform Today, 45% of PFIZER Tunisia drugs are manufactured locally, against 5% in 2000.
Since its creation in 1988, Opalia has grown to become one of the largest local pharmaceutical company in Tunisia. In 2013, the company has been acquired by the Italian multinational pharmaceutical group Recordati with the objective to develop a regional export platform for North and sub-Saharan African as well as for Middle East. The company which now operates as Opalia Recordati markets branded generic drugs with leading products in dermatology and in the gastrointestinal and respiratory therapeutic areas. Most of these products are manufactured in a modern, cGMP certified production facility
UNIMED laboratories established in 1993 and publicly listed since 2014, is the Tunisian leader in sterile and injectable products. UNIMED, which has 6 production plants and employs 680 employees, manufacture, develop and market a wide range of eye drops and injectables for retail and hospitals, according to international manufacturing standards. Over the years, UNIMED has developed on an international scale, establishing itself in various markets in Africa and Middle East.
TERIAK Laboratory, a subsidiary of the KILANI group, is a major player in the Tunisian pharmaceutical industry since its creation in 1996. the company currently employs more than 500 people in 3 sites, including two in Tunisia and one in Douala, Cameroon. TERIAK mainly serves manufactures medicines under license for leading multinational companies and produces its own generic products sold both in Tunisia and in export markets. The company has recently invested in new manufacturing capabilities for injectable and dry powder for inhalation drugs
Founded in 1995, MEDIS has a large portfolio (dry forms as well as sterile and injectable products) and employs over 600 people in Tunisia MEDIS was the first pharma company to launch sterile products and biosimilars in North Africa and has now built one of the first oncology plants on the continent as well as a large control laboratory. The group has numerous production sites in Tunisia, Algeria, the Czech Republic and Senegal
An Enabling Ecosystem for Pharmaceutical Innovation and Healthcare R&D
Going forward, Tunisia’s pharmaceutical sector is expected to further accelerate, supported by a maturing ecosystem marked by the emergence of regional leaders in the fields of Research & Development and Healthcare Innovation as BiotechPole Sid Thabet and Institut Pasteur de Tunis
Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IP) is a public scientific research establishment, established in 1893 and member of the Institut Pasteur International Network. It mainly focus on :
- Carrying out all the investigations, missions, analyses or scientific researches interesting either the human or animal public health thanks to its 18 laboratories some of which are regional reference centers
- Developing biological products such as serums and vaccines with IPT being the only producer in Africa of BCG vaccine and its immunotherapeutic form used for bladder cancer
- Offering advanced trainings to students, young researchers as well as Industry employees
BiotechPole Sidi Thabet is a Technopole fully dedicated to biotechnology, pharmaceutical and para-pharmaceutical industries as well as applied health engineering. It aims at:
- Developing and producing biomedicines locally via a dedicated public-private biotech production platform
- Foster the emergence of strategic collaborative R&D projects based on a “triple helix” innovation model
- Stimulate and manage technology transfer and valuing Research & Development results
- Encourage the creation of innovative Health-Tech companies via dedicated incubation programs
- Develop highly skilled human resources in Biotech & Health-Tech fields through training and coaching
The Biotechnology center of Sfax was created in 1983 to promote the research in the domain of bio-industry by:
- Ensuring innovation in bioindustry sector through its 7 research laboratories, 1 special unit for promoting research results and its employees (30 researchers and nearly 50 engineers and technicians)
- Positioning itself in the region as an active player in the industry thanks to 50 cooperation projects, including 4 European projects
- Realizing under contract studies for the industry (16 agreements signed with manufacturers)
Besides of R&D centers, Tunisia is also home to several integrated business parks established as part of the national strategy for the development and promotion of scientific research and offering multiple cross-sectoral value creation and synergies with the pharmaceutical industry
Elgazala Technopark :Key area of value creation and synergies with Pharma industry : Medical devices, Industrial Equipment and E-Health
Elgazala Technopark hosts various support institutions including 3 higher education institutions, research and development labs, training centers and business and projects incubators the aim of creating synergy and cross-fertilization between these actors. More than 250 companies including subsidiaries of major Multinationals (Microsoft, ST Microelectronics, Ericsson, Alcatel Lucent ...) as well as many Tunisian success stories (Telnet, Omniacom, Picosoft, Cynapsys, EBSYS ...) are currently hosted in different premises of Elgazala Technopark.
INOVATION CITY: Key area of value creation and synergies with Pharma industry : Medical devices, Industrial Equipment
Located in Sousse, the park specializes in mechatronics including IT activities, mechanics and electronics. The area is spread over 240 Ha, intended to bring together the activities of higher education, research and development, innovation, industrial activities, high-tech and clean industries
Technopole of Sfax: Key area of value creation and synergies with Pharma industry : E-Health Applications
The Technopole of Sfax, specializing ICT and multimedia technologies, is an integrated space of more than 55 ha intended to host activities in the field of academic training, research and development, innovation and technology transfer as well as industries in the tech sectors
MfCP new industrial park: Key area of value creation and synergies with Pharma industry : Personal Protective Equipment
MfCP new industrial park, “Neopark El Fejja“ and “Neopark Monastir” combine more than 310 ha developed according to the international and environmental standards. The parcs host industrial activities in several sectors such as mechatronics and textile and aim to develop interaction between actors in research, industry, and training
HIGHLY SKILLED TALENT
- More than 300.000 students enrolled in universities in 2024 including
- +48.000 in engineering and technical fields
EDUCATIONAL HUBS
