Algeria, Novo Nordisk sign deal to boost local insulin production

ALGIERS, Algeria (MNTV) — Algeria’s state-owned pharmaceutical group Saidal has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Novo Nordisk Algeria, the local branch of the Danish biopharmaceutical firm, to locally produce advanced insulin treatments. 

The partnership marks a major step toward improving the country’s healthcare self-sufficiency and expanding access to essential medicines.

The agreement focuses on co-developing and manufacturing next-generation insulin and other therapeutic molecules, addressing the growing diabetes burden in Algeria. 

With an estimated four million citizens living with diabetes—1.5 million of whom depend on insulin—the initiative is expected to significantly improve treatment availability and affordability.

Officials said the partnership aligns with Algeria’s national pharmaceutical policy, which seeks to localize production of key drugs, including vaccines, cancer treatments, and biologics. 

Health Minister Abdelhak Saihi recently reaffirmed the government’s commitment to removing administrative barriers, promoting innovation, and supporting local pharmaceutical exports.

Under the agreement, a fully integrated aseptic production facility will be established in Algeria, enabling the transfer of technology and manufacturing expertise from Novo Nordisk to Saidal. 

This collaboration aims to ensure international quality standards in local insulin production, bolstering patient safety and healthcare resilience.

The project will be carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Fund, reflecting a unified national vision for self-reliance in critical medical products. 

Officials described the move as both a health and economic milestone that will strengthen Algeria’s position as a regional center for pharmaceutical innovation.