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Ammon News - The 4th edition of the Arab Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Expo 2022 kicked off in Amman on Wednesday with 110 national and international exhibitors.

A conference titled "Prospects of Biosimilars Industry and Supply Chain Challenges in the Arab World", was held concurrently with the expo.

The two-day event, organized by the Arab Union of the Manufacturers of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Appliances (AUPAM), will tackle a range of issues related to medicinal security and biosimilars among others.

In an opening speech, Director-General of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) Nizar Mheidat underlined the need for a collective effort to upgrade drug and pharmaceuticals manufacturing in the Arab region, pledging that the JFDA is ready to support advanced medical industries.

He urged participants to support pan-Arab medicine production "to meet our needs and support Arab economies," adding that the conference serves as a forum for all stakeholders to share pharmaceutical know-how and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In order to ensure that medications are affordable and easily accessible, Abdulnaser Sijari, CEO of Itqan Pharmaceutical Industries Company and conference manager, emphasized AUPAM's strategy for pursuing pan-Arab drug and pharmaceutical security. The plan, Sijari continued, also calls for the establishment of a common Arab pharmaceutical market.

The head of the Jordan Pharmacists Association, Muhammad Ababneh, described the Kingdom as a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry and stressed that the Jordanian pharmaceutical industry has evolved into a regional and international model.

According to AUPAM President Adnan Badwan, this year's event will focus on the manufacturing of biosimilars and will feature 28 speakers from Jordan and beyond. He stated that the gathering is discussing strategic drug stockpiling, national and pan-Arab pharmaceutical security, and the fight against counterfeit medications.

The event will also address the role of government agencies in facilitating drug accreditation and registration, as well as the future of biological alternatives in local manufacturing.