EGYPT – Eli Lilly and EVA Pharma have achieved a significant milestone with the approval of their locally manufactured insulin glargine injection by the Egyptian Drug Authority.
The insulin, designed to treat patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is the result of a collaboration that began in 2022 with the goal of making quality, affordable insulin accessible to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa.
This partnership aims to supply insulin to at least one million diabetic individuals annually in these regions.
EVA Pharma’s role in the collaboration has been pivotal, including the establishment of a new biologics manufacturing facility within two years.
The company successfully completed stability testing, finalized insulin formulations, and submitted the product for regulatory approval in Egypt.
Eli Lilly contributed by providing its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for insulin at a low cost and facilitating technology transfer.
This enabled EVA Pharma to locally formulate, fill, and finish insulin vials and cartridges, marking a significant step in addressing unmet healthcare needs in LMICs.
This initiative aligns with global health priorities that emphasize equitable access to essential medicines and supports Lilly’s ambitious 30×30 goal—to improve healthcare access for 30 million people in underserved regions annually by 2030.
Beyond Egypt, EVA Pharma is working toward achieving World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification for its insulin, further validating the high-quality standards of its products and broadening their global reach.
Lilly International President Ilya Yuffa highlighted the company’s century-long dedication to diabetes care, emphasizing that this collaboration underscores their commitment to sustainable and accessible healthcare solutions worldwide.
This effort could inspire similar partnerships, fostering competition, innovation, and equitable access to life-saving medicines in resource-constrained areas.
In parallel, Lilly has expanded its collaboration with EVA Pharma by licensing baricitinib manufacturing know-how to produce treatments for immunological diseases in 56 LMICs across Africa.
In another development, the China National Medical Products Administration approved Lilly’s Kisunla, an Alzheimer’s treatment for early symptomatic stages, based on Phase III TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 trial data.
