Pfizer to acquire Seagen for US$43B in

Adcetris.

Seagen's expertise in antibodydrug conjugate technology has yielded three new drug approvals in the past three years, and its pipeline of cancer treatments includes the top-selling lymphoma medicine Adcetris.

USA —Pfizer has agreed to acquire Seagen, a Seattle-based biotechnology company that specializes in developing tumor-killing medicine, for a sum of US$43 billion.

INDIA – Marion Biotech has lost its licenses to manufacture and sell Dok-1 MAX, which is suspected to have led to the death of 18 children who consumed it in Uzbekistan.

In January 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international medical product alert for batches of two contaminated cough syrups blamed for the deaths of at least 20 children in Uzbekistan.

The contaminated products, Ambronol syrup, and DOK-1 Max syrup were identified in Uzbekistan and reported to the WHO on Dec. 22 of last year.

Marion Biotech’s licence was under suspension since January 2023 and a detailed inquiry was initiated under three articles of the Criminal Code.

Uttar Pradesh Drug Controller Authority cancelled the manufacturing licence of the firm after highly toxic substances were found in the preparations DOK-1 MAX and Ambronol produced by Marion Biotech.

This deal marks one of the biggest in the biotech industry in recent years, and it will provide Pfizer with control over Seagen's cancer treatments, including its top-selling lymphoma medicine

This acquisition is Pfizer's largest since buying Wyeth in 2009 and the biggest in the drug industry since AbbVie's US$63 billion buyout of Allergan in 2019. This acquisition highlights the ongoing trend of M&A activity within the biotech industry as companies seek to expand their portfolios and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

manufacturer and marketer of invitro diagnostic reagents, kits, and instruments nationally and internationally.

The partnership will pave the way for the upgrading of laboratory infrastructure in the UAE and Kuwait, enabling laboratories in the region to drive better health outcomes.

UAE — Dubai-based molecular diagnostics manufacturing company AstraGene has formed a joint venture with Indian diagnostic company Mylab to design, develop and commercialise fully-automated molecular diagnostics in the Middle East.

The partnership will see both companies jointly market automated molecular diagnostics across Kuwait and the UAE in the coming months, with AstraGene becoming a leading

USA — Johnson & Johnson has proposed a settlement of nearly US$9 billion to resolve allegations that its baby powder containing talc has caused cancer, marking a significant turning point in the legal battle it has been fighting for years.

The proposed amount is more than four times what the company had previously set aside for this purpose. The plan includes a transfer of US$8.9 billion to the subsidiary, LTL Management, payable over the next 25 years. This amount is being backed by more than 60,000 parties that have filed lawsuits alleging harm from J&J talcum powder. Despite the proposed settlement, J&J is not admitting any wrongdoing. The company has denied the allegations and defended the safety of its products. However, the legal battle has taken a toll on the company, with the lawsuits resulting in significant legal expenses and tarnishing the company’s reputation.

powered diagnostic imaging in African and emerging markets.

SOUTH AFRICA — South African healthtech startup Envisionit Deep AI has secured US$1.65million in funding

FUNDING FUNDING from New GX Ventures and an additional undisclosed sum from the GIIG Africa Fund to help it democratize access to AI-

The funding will be used to finance research and development into new solutions for early diagnosis and support the company's expansion into Europe and the US following the attainment of the necessary regulatory authorisations. Founded in 2019, the company harnesses AI to transform how healthcare professionals diagnose and treat patients and helps to solve critical staffing and resource shortages mainly in public healthcare systems and underserved communities across Africa.

KENYA — Hewatele, a Kenyan oxygen production firm, has secured a US$10 million loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to expand production and distribution of affordable medical oxygen for hospitals and clinics across Kenya.

The loan is part of the DFC’s COVID-19 Response, which is working to mitigate the economic and health impacts of the pandemic, and its Global Health and Prosperity Initiative. Hewatele operates oxygen plants in Siaya, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Nairobi and produces oxygen by using a naturally occurring salt to separate nitrogen from the air. The loan is expected to help address the steep shortage of medical oxygen caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

over the next three years to meet the growing demand for high-quality health care services.

INDIA – Hospital chain Kauvery Hospital Group has snapped up US$70 million in an investment funding round from a private equity fund managed by IIFL AMC allowing for its expansion across India.

Backed by reputed Indian and global investors Lightrock and Dr. GSK Velu’s family office, the Kauvery Hospital Group plans to increase its footprint across India to help consolidate its current scale and market positioning.

Kauvery is currently in the midst of a fast-paced expansion programme, as it plans to reach 1,000 beds each by 2025 in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Tamil Nadu clusters.

The multi-speciality hospital will use the funds from the IIFL AMC’s private equity fund to expand its bed capacity

It also plans to extend its offerings, with a focus on mother, child care, and pre and postoperative patient engagement areas, among others.

GHANA/NIGERIA — Ghana has become the first country in the world to approve a new malaria vaccine from Oxford University, R21//Matrix-M, with children under the age of three in line to benefit.

Ghana’s drug regulators have assessed the final trial data on the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, which is not yet public, and have decided to use it, although it is unclear when the rollout will begin.

Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority has approved the vaccine’s use in children aged between five months to three years as the West African country strengthens its efforts to control malaria-related child mortality. Around 20,000 children die of malaria every year in Ghana, 25% of whom are aged under five.

India’s Serum Institute, which is partnering with Oxford University, plans to build a vaccine factory in the country’s capital Accra to produce up to 200 million doses a year.

“While the vaccine might be heralded as a huge win in the fight against malaria, it is no silver bullet,” Javier Guzman, the director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development, said. “There are important points to consider before the R21 vaccine is rolled out for wider use.”

Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has granted registration approval for the Malaria

Vaccine, while communicating the need for expansion of the clinical trial conducted to include a phase 4 clinical trial/Pharmacovigilance study to be carried out in Nigeria.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye said that the Marketing Authorization Holder is Fidson Healthcare Ltd in line with the Agency’s Drug and Related Products Registration Regulation 2021.

The R21 Malaria vaccine is an Adjuvanted protein vaccine presented as a sterile solution. A dose which is 0.5ml is composed of R21 Malaria antigen 5µg and Matrix-M1 50µg as an adjuvant filled in a vial as ready-to-use liquid formulation for intramuscular injection.

UAE – Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (JULPHAR) has appointed Mr. Basel Ziyadeh as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its manufacturing business.

In a press release, Julphar said: “Basel Ziyadeh will succeed Essam Mohamed as CEO, who has stepped down from the senior role after joining in 2020.”

With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector, he will be leading Julphar to achieve its ambitious goal to deliver greater impact across all the markets the manufacturer serves.

Ziyadeh brings a deep understanding of pharmaceutical marketing and multisite manufacturing, as well as strategy development in the field of vaccines and biological medicines.

“He served as an advisor and board member for several pharmaceutical entities across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, and Lebanon,” outlined Julphar.

The Emirati pharmaceutical manufacturer has selected Mr. Ziyadeh as the ideal candidate to drive strategic growth and scale its operations in the MENA region and beyond.

INDIA – NATHEALTH has hired Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi as the company’s new President following the exit of Dr. Shravan Subramanyam.

Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi brings a wealth of expertise and experience in the company’s operations, serving previously as NATHEALTH Senior Vice President (SVP) since April 2022.

His appointment comes amid senior leadership changes at NATHEALTH, an apex body representing the entire ecosystem of the Indian healthcare industry.

KENYA — Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed Prof. Stanley Khainga as the chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDU) for a three-year term.

Other members of the newly elected NATHEALTH leadership team are Ameera Shah as SVP, Abhay Soi as Vice President, Shishir Agarwal as Secretary, and Visalakshi Chandramouli as Treasurer.

At the same time, NATHEALTH has selected Sunil Thakur, Partner at Quadria Capital Investment Management, to lead a special task force in setting up a separate NATHEALTH foundation.

Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Secretary General of NATHEALTH, will continue to lead and head the NATHEALTH secretariat. Moreover, he has led the operational arm since 2018.

The KMPDU is a workers’ union for all doctors in Kenya, with over 8,000 members in both public and private sectors. The appointment is part of a series of recent changes in the country’s healthcare sector, including the appointments of Dr. Abdullahi Ali as chairman of the board for the Kenya Medical Research Institute and Dr. Samier Muravvej as chairperson of the Kenyatta National Hospital.

Amid calls for a Health Service Commission, the unions argue that public health facilities have become less predictable since devolution began a decade ago, and that the country’s health services should be returned to the national government due to a lack of proper resources.

SAUDI ARABIA – King’s College Hospital London (King’s) has appointed Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for its branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With over 25 years of experience in global health, Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany is well-suited to lead the expansion of King’s College Hospital London’s platform in Saudi Arabia.

He is an accomplished physician consultant and healthcare leader who will oversee Ashmore’s ambitious expansion plan across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region.

RWANDA — Dr. Daniel Ngamije Madandi has been appointed as Director of the Global Malaria Programme by the World Health Organization, effective 8 April 2023.

NIGERIA — The Federal Government of Nigeria has reappointed Professor Jesse Otegbayo as the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, for another four-year term.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, announced the reappointment while inaugurating seven projects in the hospital in Ibadan. The minister praised Otegbayo’s leadership and called on the hospital to recapture its past reputation, not just as the premier hospital in Ibadan, but as a leading destination for cuttingedge healthcare in Africa.

In his new role, Dr. Abdelghany will oversee the construction programme of King’s hospital in Jeddah, which is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2024.

KCHJ will be the country’s first truly integrated hospital bringing the full benefits of King’s College Hospital London to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, Dr. Mohaymen is expected to cement King’s position as the highest-quality provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Dr. Ngamije was the Rwandan Minister of Health, during which he led the development and implementation of the Health Sector Strategic Plan and the COVID-19 comprehensive response plan. He also served as the National Programme Officer for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases in the WHO Rwanda country office, and coordinated Rwanda’s National Malaria Control Program between 2005 and 2007.

In addition, WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus congratulated Rwanda for acquiring the first BioNTainer, a facility that is equipped to manufacture a range of mRNA-based vaccines, and commended the country for its commitment to vaccine equity in Africa.

Otegbayo, in his remarks, expressed optimism that the projects would help to stem the tide of health tourism and brain drain in the health sector due to poor working conditions.