As of 2005, IFC has invested over US$150 million along the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors ranging from generic pharmaceuticals producing basic chemical compounds to more sophisticated biotechnology companies exploring new vaccines. IFC provided equity, quasi-equity, and debt financing for our greenfield projects, expansion, and acquisitions in East Asia, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Africa.
Subsector Categories:
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
- Manufacturing Drug Formulations
- Wholesale & Distribution
Examples of IFC investments:
- Bharat Biotech (India): An Indian biotechnology firm that develops, manufactures, distributes and markets vaccines and bio-pharmaceuticals. The company also is developing a proprietary line of molecules (including malaria and rotavirus vaccines) and does contract development and manufacturing for western pharma and biotech companies. In 2005, IFC invested $4.5 million of equity in the company to finance its expansion.
- Pliva (Croatia): Croatian based pharma company focused on generics and selected novel R&D, it discovered blockbuster, a new generation antibiotic azithromycin. In 2001, IFC financed the Company’s expansion with a $35 million loan.
- Dabur Pharma (India): An Indian generic pharma company producing active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulations for the oncology market. Dabur has a leading domestic market share in this sector, exports to over 30 countries, and has a formulations facility in the UK. In 2005, IFC invested $15 million in equity in the company to finance the expansion and upgrading of its plants and its entry into the regulated (US, Europe) markets.
- Hikma (Jordan): Hikma develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products with a focus on oral generics. The Company has a niche-driven strategy of entry into the US markets. IFC has financed the Company’s expansion with both equity and debt within the last five years.
