Capsugel expands presence in Middle East

Active in the Middle East for more than a decade, Capsugel will participate in the region's leading health forum --Health Insight 3 -- for the third consecutive year.

The company is convening a symposium as part of this week's annual forum bringing together experts from the U.S., Europe and the Middle East to discuss pathways for development of pharmaceutical products for a global market.

Topics will cover best practices on the global regulatory framework and patient-centric advances in drug delivery technologies for an aging population. Salim Haffar, Capsugel's Senior Vice President for the EMEA region, will provide an update on how capsule-based dry powder inhalation technology is emerging as an increasingly affordable method to treat escalating chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma. The international congress expects to draw more than 250 participants from 13 different countries.

"Capsugel is at the forefront of bringing innovative oral dosage form solutions to the Middle East and Africa markets. Our objective is to support our customer's growth by providing high quality, affordable products that will meet healthcare needs," said Jean-Noël Pichon, Manager of Capsugel's Beirut office.

"Our ongoing participation in events such as Health Insight 3 demonstrates our commitment to this region. With the global growth of supergenerics, our wide range of capsule solutions, technical knowledge and first-hand insight into these unique markets, are assets for our customers here."

With the recent opening of its Beirut office, Capsugel aims to provide local technical and commercial support to its pharmaceutical and health and nutrition customers in the Middle East. According to IMS, the pharmaceutical industry in this region is expected to grow at the rate of 7% over the next several years.

"Capsugel is investing in areas where there is increased demand for our high quality products and innovative solutions throughout the Europe, Middle East and Africa region," said Mr. Haffar.

"Lebanon is a strategic location at the heart of the Middle East. Establishing an office here helps us to be closer to our regional customers and deliver an even higher level of service. This new footprint further strengthens our position in the fast growing pharmaceutical industry."