Nigerian pharmaceutical giant, Fidson Healthcare has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese firm Ohara Pharmaceutical, during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
The agreement, unveiled in Tokyo, signaled a new chapter in the partnership between the two companies, aimed at scaling up local drug production, strengthening research, and reducing Africa’s reliance on imported medicines.
Leading Fidson’s delegation, Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Abiola Adebayo, said the renewed commitment would accelerate the production of specialised medicines for diverse conditions, including critical therapeutic areas such as pediatric oncology.
“Putting this strategic alliance on a world stage like TICAD emphasises the fact that the Fidson-Ohara collaboration has come to stay,”
Adebayo told journalists at the event.
The Fidson-Ohara partnership dated back to 2019, when both companies began working together following Fidson’s rights issue. At its core, the collaboration focused on technology transfer and innovation, with Ohara providing expertise in advanced manufacturing and generic medicines.
According to Adebayo, the expanded alliance will enable Fidson to deepen its capabilities in areas such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production and adopt breakthrough technologies pioneered by Ohara.
“By leveraging Ohara’s Technical know-how and experience, the partnership has strengthened local production capacity, improved the quality and affordability of medicines, and ultimately reduced the country’s dependence on foreign supplies,” he said.
For Ohara, the MoU represents an opportunity to expand its footprint across Africa’s fast-growing pharmaceutical market. President and CEO of Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Dr. Seiji Ohara, expressed confidence in the collaboration’s potential to deliver tangible healthcare impact.
“Since the beginning of our collaboration, Ohara and Fidson have built a sincere and trusting relationship. Signing this MoU allows us to further strengthen our relationship with Fidson while contributing to two key values, the growth of Fidson’s business and the mission of saving more lives,” Dr. Ohara said.
The agreement is expected to accelerate the transfer of advanced research and manufacturing processes, giving Fidson the capacity to produce a broader range of high-quality, locally made medicines.
