Local vaccine manufacturer, Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd is expected to increase its investment portfolio in the country after investing about $50 million.

The company which is into manufacturing of vaccines, injectables, among others says markets beyond Ghana provide the company an opportunity to step up production for foreign exchange earnings for the country, aside employment.

Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance and Quality Assurance Manager of the Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, Smart Bediako disclosed this to Joy Business at Larkpleku in the Ningo-Prampram district during a familiarisation visit by Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.

“We have invested $50 million and have plans to increase this investment, it is good for Ghana’s economy. If the country attracts investments, it will help stabilise the cedi”

The factory sits on a 25-acre land with 700 acres to spare for future expansion.

“Because of our capacity, we’re not only focusing on the domestic market but Ecowas market as well. This means we are going to invest more as we intend adding more product lines to our portfolio and export to neighbouring countries,” he said.

He believes the company will earn foreign exchange from export to neighbouring countries and this will impact positively on Ghana’s economy.

According to Smart Bediako, one area of importance to Atlantic Lifesciences is employment.

“Employment is crucial to us. We have 400 workers made up of both temporal and permanent workers. We have decided to restrict employment to youth in Larkpleku and other communities within the district with the exception of technical persons. ”

The company has approval from Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) having registered 58 products.

An important goal of Atlantic Lifesciences is to go into end to end manufacturing of vaccine with its three-phase approach.

The first phase which has a fill and finish plant once fully completed will have a combined capacity to produce about 650 million doses of vaccines annually including Hepatitis B,HPV, Pneumococcal and Tetanus Toxoid vaccines in the short term.

The second phase which will also be a fill and finish plant will have the capacity to produce over 600 million doses of vaccines per annum focusing on Measles and Rubella, Oral Polio as Rotavirus for the medium term plan (2025-2026).   

The facility is expected to produce vaccines from scratch in the third phase as part of the long term plan from 2027.

Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, Dhananjay Tripathi appealed to Pharmaceutical Society to help influence policies that will push for local manufacturing and restrict reliance on importation.   

“This will help the company succeed locally and spread its wings into the greater African market as the factory has the capacity meet demand,” he assured.

Meanwhile, president of Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh says considering the impact of companies such as Atlantic Lifesciences, the country currently manufactures about 30% of its pharmaceutical needs.

“Our strategic plan is to help the country improve local manufacturing to achieve 50% self-sufficiency and the remaining 50% imported and it behoves us to support companies such as Atlantic Lifesciences to achieve this goal”

“Currently, the country is doing 30% in terms of producing pharmaceutical needs and there is more to do in achieving the 10-year plan”, he urged.    

Dr. Samuel Donkoh assured the Atlantic Lifesciences of the Society’s support through advocacy, engagement with government, politicians and other stakeholders to push policies that protect local pharma companies.

Of the company’s $ 50 million investment, Ghana Exim bank supported with $10 million, $ 5 million from Stanchart and $ 35 million generated internally by the company.   Present were Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Lifesciences, David Klutse, executives of Pharmaceutical Society of Ghan

Local vaccine manufacturer to increase investments; targets Ecowas market

Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd is expected to add to its investment portfolio in the country after investing $50 million.

The company which is into manufacturing of vaccines, injectables, among others says markets beyond Ghana provide the company an opportunity to step up production for foreign exchange earnings for the country, aside employment.

Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance and Quality Assurance Manager of the Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, Smart Bediako disclosed this to Joy Business at Larkpleku in the Ningo-Prampram district during a familiarisation visit by Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.

“We have invested $50 million and have plans to increase this investment, it is good for Ghana’s economy. If the country attracts investments, it will help stabilise the cedi”

The factory sits on a 25-acre land with 700 acres to spare for future expansion.

“Because of our capacity, we’re not only focusing on the domestic market but Ecowas market as well. This means we are going to invest more as we intend adding more product lines to our portfolio and export to neighbouring countries,” he said.

He believes the company will earn foreign exchange from export to neighbouring countries and this will impact positively on Ghana’s economy.

According to Smart Bediako, one area of importance to Atlantic Lifesciences is employment.

“Employment is crucial to us. We have 400 workers made up of both temporal and permanent workers. We have decided to restrict employment to youth in Larkpleku and other communities within the district with the exception of technical persons. ”

The company has approval from Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) having registered 58 products.

An important goal of Atlantic Lifesciences is to go into end to end manufacturing of vaccine with its three-phase approach.

The first phase which has a fill and finish plant once fully completed will have a combined capacity to produce about 650 million doses of vaccines annually including Hepatitis B,HPV, Pneumococcal and Tetanus Toxoid vaccines in the short term.

The second phase which will also be a fill and finish plant will have the capacity to produce over 600 million doses of vaccines per annum focusing on Measles and Rubella, Oral Polio as Rotavirus for the medium term plan (2025-2026).   

The facility is expected to produce vaccines from scratch in the third phase as part of the long term plan from 2027.

Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, Dhananjay Tripathi appealed to Pharmaceutical Society to help influence policies that will push for local manufacturing and restrict reliance on importation.   

“This will help the company succeed locally and spread its wings into the greater African market as the factory has the capacity meet demand,” he assured.

Meanwhile, president of Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh says considering the impact of companies such as Atlantic Lifesciences, the country currently manufactures about 30% of its pharmaceutical needs.

“Our strategic plan is to help the country improve local manufacturing to achieve 50% self-sufficiency and the remaining 50% imported and it behoves us to support companies such as Atlantic Lifesciences to achieve this goal”

“Currently, the country is doing 30% in terms of producing pharmaceutical needs and there is more to do in achieving the 10-year plan”, he urged.    

Dr. Samuel Donkoh assured the Atlantic Lifesciences of the Society’s support through advocacy, engagement with government, politicians and other stakeholders to push policies that protect local pharma companies.

Of the company’s $ 50 million investment, Ghana Exim bank supported with $10 million, $ 5 million from Stanchart and $ 35 million generated internally by the company.   Present were Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Lifesciences, David Klutse, executives of Pharmaceutical Society of Ghan