Klea Holding Launches Pharmaceutical Subsidiary in the Middle East and Africa
Klea Holding announces the establishment of Klea Pharmaceuticals, a new subsidiary aimed at marketing a portfolio of licensed drugs in the Middle East and Africa. This initiative is part of the group's diversification strategy in the healthcare sector, capitalizing on its regional operational experience.
Formation and Structure of Klea Pharmaceuticals
Klea Holding has announced the creation of Klea Pharmaceuticals, controlled and consolidated by the group with a 46% stake, alongside two founders from the international pharmaceutical industry and professional investors. There is an option for Klea Holding to increase its stake to 70% within three years, subject to adherence to the development plan. The founders bring expertise in the development, registration, and marketing of pharmaceutical products in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The company will operate from Dubai, where it will establish a scientific office dedicated to portfolio management, regulatory activities, and commercial development. Klea Pharmaceuticals starts with a portfolio of 59 registered drugs under the dual coding of Dubai Drug Code (DDC) and HAAD Code (Abu Dhabi), providing access to both public and private markets. The distribution partner network covers 1,611 pharmacies (51% of the territory of the United Arab Emirates) and 51 private and public hospital groups. Drug manufacturing will rely on subcontracting partnerships (CDMO) with 18 international production sites approved by US-FDA or EU-GMP.
Initial Operations and Geographic Expansion
In the initial phase, Klea Pharmaceuticals will focus its commercial operations on the market of the United Arab Emirates, before accelerating its geographic expansion. The company plans to enter the Saudi market from 2027 and to progressively develop in West Africa from 2027/2028. Concurrently, Klea Pharmaceuticals plans to gradually enrich its portfolio through the acquisition of new pharmaceutical licenses and assets, including 33 innovative products already identified, in order to strengthen its presence across various therapeutic segments, particularly chronic and autoimmune diseases. Klea Pharmaceuticals will have an initial structured financing of 12.5 million AED (approximately 3.0 million euros), fully funded by Klea Holding and its associates in the form of partner current account contributions, mobilized from available cash or, if necessary, through traditional bank financing.
