Russian pharma company to invest $80 million in Pakistan insulin manufacturing plant

Russian pharmaceutical company Zavod Medsintez LLC is set to establish an insulin manufacturing facility in Pakistan in partnership with local firm Genetics Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, with a total investment of $80 million.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has approved the project, linking the approval to strict phase-wise construction timelines.

What is the Russian insulin manufacturing project in Pakistan?

Zavod Medsintez and Genetics Pharmaceuticals plan to build a full-scale insulin production facility in Pakistan across two phases over six years.

The project will produce Rosinsulin products and eventually manufacture insulin raw materials domestically. DRAP has conditionally approved maximum retail prices for six Russian insulin products, tied to compliance with the project timelines.

What are the two phases of the insulin plant project?

The first phase involves a $20 million investment to construct an aseptic insulin filling plant by December 2028. Biological units for insulin refilling will also be built during this stage.

The second phase, valued at $60 million, will deliver a full insulin manufacturing plant and technology transfer to Pakistan, with completion targeted by December 2031.

During the second phase, the company will also establish a facility to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients domestically. APIs are the biologically active components within drugs responsible for producing the intended health effects.

DRAP has warned that non-compliance with the set timelines may result in cancellation of the product registrations.

Is insulin currently produced in Pakistan?

Pakistan currently relies on imports for most of its insulin needs, making the Zavod Medsintez project a significant step toward pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

The initiative aims to reduce dependence on expensive imported insulin and address the high demand for diabetes treatment in the country. Local production of raw materials, planned for the project's second phase, would further deepen domestic manufacturing capacity.