On October 24, a ceremony took place in Almaty to launch the production of innovative drugs by the Swiss pharmaceutical giant F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Roche) in partnership with Nobel Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory JSC (Nobel AFF), Kazakh Invest reported.
The investment project to localize production was implemented based on an agreement between Roche, SK-Pharmacy LLP, Nobel AFF, and the Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, with the support of Kazakh Invest. Under this agreement, Roche committed to establishing local production of three biotechnological drugs for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer—an aggressive form of the disease that affects up to 20% of breast cancer patients in Kazakhstan.
“The localization of oncological drugs by a global leader like Roche is a huge step forward for our country. This project will not only provide patients with access to advanced treatments but also make a significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan’s healthcare infrastructure. Such bold and visionary initiatives ensure that our citizens will receive the best care here at home,” said Minister of Health of Kazakhstan, Akmaral Alnazarova.
The transfer of advanced technologies and production capabilities to local partners will allow Roche not only to reduce healthcare system costs in Kazakhstan but also to significantly expand patient access to essential medicines. Around 5,000 new cases of breast cancer are registered annually, with approximately 1,200 resulting in death. It is expected that this initiative will increase the number of patients receiving therapy to 1,335 by 2026.
