UAE to Manufacture Eli Lilly's Popular Weight-Loss Drugs, Including Mounjaro

A significant agreement has been signed, paving the way for US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to manufacture its weight-loss drugs within the UAE. The deal, established with Mubadala Bio, will see four of Eli Lilly's key medications produced in the Emirates. Among these are the widely recognized Mounjaro and Foundayo, Eli Lilly's oral medicine.

Production is anticipated to commence shortly, according to Hamad Almarzooqi, deputy chief executive of Mubadala Bio. He shared this information on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit held on Tuesday. "They will be contract-manufactured here in the UAE and distributed around the world," Almarzooqi stated. He further emphasized that the agreement is set to "support reliable access to innovative medicines while strengthening the UAE's role in the global life-sciences supply chain."

This development aligns with earlier reports from The National, which highlighted that the UAE's initiatives to combat obesity could potentially boost national productivity by $51 billion, enhance military readiness, and elevate educational standards. Projections indicate that approximately 32 per cent of the UAE's population is at risk of obesity by 2031, a condition that significantly increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. A collaborative study involving Eli Lilly, market analysts Whiteshield, and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism suggests that accelerated intervention could reduce this figure to 18 per cent within the same timeframe.

The National has also previously reported on health authorities urging UAE residents to use weight-loss pills responsibly and only under medical supervision. In June, the Wegovy weight-loss pill received approval for use in the UAE, following its prior availability via injection pen for weight loss. The misuse of prescription drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro has seen a notable increase, with individuals seeking these injectable medications for their rapid weight-loss effects. Global health authorities have faced challenges in controlling the use of unregulated, off-brand injectables obtained without a prescription for cosmetic reasons, often fueled by social media trends and peer influence.

Mubadala Bio was established in May of the previous year with the primary objectives of bolstering medicine security, addressing prevalent diseases, and cultivating domestic expertise. Mr. Almarzooqi noted that the majority of pharmaceutical products utilized in the UAE are currently imported. While the company has a five-year strategy to reduce this reliance, a specific public target has not yet been set. "Mubadala Bio was created for three reasons: to ensure drug security in the UAE, to address the most prevalent diseases in the UAE, and to build that local ecosystem and talent within the company," he explained.

The company also reported successfully maintaining supplies of essential medicines during periods of shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year. By increasing stocks of raw materials, arranging alternative air and land transportation routes, and utilizing other UAE ports, Mubadala Bio mitigated the impact of the strait's closure. Some raw materials were even sourced locally. "Many of our raw materials for essential drugs are manufactured here in the UAE," Almarzooqi confirmed. "That helped us supply the country … when disruptions were happening." The company's overarching goal, he stated, is to ensure the availability of essential medicines for patients when they need them, free from delays or stockouts. "A patient on dialysis cannot postpone this treatment," he stressed. "A patient with diabetes needs continuous assurance of continuity of insulin. A lady who’s getting cancer treatment in a hospital needs assurance that her treatment is available at all times. We’re dealing with people’s lives."

Mubadala Bio operates four manufacturing plants across the UAE. Bioventure Healthcare, located in Jebel Ali, is responsible for producing soft-gelatin capsules and operates a high-potency oncology site that also manufactures hormones. This facility has already launched over four oncology products and female fertility hormones, with more in development, according to Mr. Almarzooqi. He added that agreements with international drug manufacturers are not solely focused on importation. Companies are choosing the UAE, he explained, "because of the talent that we have, because of the connectivity and the outreach that we have and because of the quality of the finished goods that we produce." Building confidence in locally manufactured generic medicines, he believes, will hinge on their efficacy. "We are very comfortable that our products meet the highest global standards," he concluded.