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In line with its new supply chain operating model, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc has approved the selection of Fidson Healthcare Plc as its contract manufacturing partner in Nigeria.
According to a statement on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, “with this development, Fidson Healthcare Plc is poised to increase the capacity utilization of its ultramodern manufacturing facility at Otta, Ogun State and by extension its profitability. Fidson envisages that all necessary regulatory approvals would be obtained to execute the contract successfully.
“The selection process which commenced about two years ago ended on Friday, the 12th of April 2019 with a signing ceremony at the Corporate Head Office of GSK Nigeria in Lagos.
Also, Fidson Healthcare selection is subject to the meeting of appropriate regulatory requirements, wherein GSK would be transitioning the manufacturing of five of its products/formulations to Fidson Healthcare Plc from Q3 2021.
This decision establishes GSK as one of the healthcare multinational companies localising productions of its brands via local contract manufacturing.
Speaking on the choice of local contract manufacturing, Managing Director of GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Bhushan Akshikar, said: “Working with a local contract manufacturer for the supply of our products, will build local expertise, transfer technical knowledge and improve local production capacities in the country.
“We believe this decision will allow us to build a more sustainable commercial business, enabling us to continue our efforts in supporting access to our consumer health products, medicines and vaccines across Nigeria and West Africa.”
Managing Director/CEO of Fidson, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, said: “we are very excited about this collaboration with GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc. Future growth and success in the healthcare industry will be fostered on the right partnerships, and we could not have asked for better partners at this stage of our growth.
“This partnership justifies the investment made in our cGMP-compliant factory and will certainly promote the transfer of technical knowhow and technology while improving access to quality medicines for peoples of the West African sub-region and beyond.”
“The contract manufacturing strategy adopted by GSK is in line with the industrialisation plan of the Nigerian government – the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), to ensure Nigeria becomes the preferred pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in West Africa.”
“It is also targeted at making the country one of the top two manufacturing hubs in West Africa and the preferred source for supplying low and medium-technology consumer and industrial goods domestically and regionally.
“It is important to note that all changes communicated do not impact GSK’s broader commitments to Global Health in Nigeria and across Africa. GSK Nigeria will continue to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)”, the statement read in part.
