Nassim Rahmani, Associate VP Commercial Europe & Canada, explains how—from operational excellence to expanding market leadership in Europe—we're becoming the partner of choice for essential injectable medicines.
Q: What is the market opportunity for Hikma's Injectables division in Europe?
A: The European generics market represents a significant growth opportunity for Hikma's Injectables division. Generic medicines are the backbone of European healthcare, with 9 out of 10 critical medicines being generics[1].
Hikma has been operating in Europe for over 30 years, and our reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality injectable medicines manufactured in Europe has positioned us as a highly trusted partner. Our recent expansion into France, Spain, and the UK reflects the growing confidence of our customers.
Our credibility in Europe is reinforced by our strong foundations in the US. As a top-three supplier of injectable medicines in the US[2], we have established a robust track record of operational excellence, supply reliability, and market trust. This proven performance in one of the world's most demanding healthcare markets means we are well-positioned to meet the standards required by European healthcare systems.
Q: What gives Hikma a competitive advantage in the European injectables market?
A: We have built a uniquely integrated European manufacturing and supply platform that combines a broad injectables portfolio, local manufacturing scale, enhanced R&D capabilities, and strategic market responsiveness. Our FDA and EMA approved manufacturing facilities meet the highest GxP standards.
Broad hospital injectables portfolio: Our extensive portfolio of over 150 injectables generic medicines that treat a broad range of medical conditions provides a strong foundation for organic growth, enabling us to meet diverse hospital needs across multiple therapeutic areas.
Manufacturing excellence and expanding capacity: 80% of the injectables we supply to Europe are produced within Europe itself – spanning facilities in Portugal, Germany, and Italy – enabling us to meet local demand with outstanding efficiency and competitive lead-times.
We will have even more manufacturing capacity in Europe once our new facility in Cleveland, Ohio opens and takes over production for US hospitals. This will help us meet the growing demand in the European market and reinforce our position of major supplier of essential medicines.
Enhanced R&D capabilities: Our newly acquired Zagreb R&D facility significantly strengthens our new product development capacity in Europe. The Zagreb facility will drive localised product development tailored to European regulatory requirements, adapt our global portfolio for regional needs, develop new specialised molecules and accelerate our time-to-market advantage.
Rapid response to shortages: In a market where supply security is paramount, our ability to rapidly respond to help solve drug shortages and strategically prioritise launches based on critical supply gaps positions us as an essential partner to European healthcare systems.
This integrated model – combining portfolio breadth, local manufacturing scale, dedicated R&D, and proven supply reliability – strongly positions us to capture meaningful market share in the coming years.
Q: Is Hikma's Injectables organic growth strong enough, or will you require M&A in Europe to continue to grow?
A: With our established manufacturing footprint, broad portfolio of generic injectables medicines, and enhanced R&D capabilities in Zagreb, we have substantial capacity for organic growth, with a very strong pipeline of new launches expected across our EU markets. In addition, our ability to rapidly respond to market shortages and prioritise strategic launches provides clear pathways to capture further market share.
To supplement this, we are actively looking at inorganic opportunities in Europe and will pursue acquisitions only when they meaningfully strengthen our position in key therapeutic area.
This disciplined approach will allow us to grow sustainably through organic means while maintaining flexibility to act on strategic opportunities when they arise.
Q: Why do European healthcare authorities and hospitals choose to partner with Hikma?
A: Hikma delivers strategic value to European governments through our extensive portfolio of essential injectable medicines across key therapeutic areas – products that other manufacturers frequently discontinue due to commercial pressures. Our comprehensive European manufacturing operations, R&D hub in Zagreb, and commercial teams positioned throughout Europe, enable rapid response, proactive supply chain management, and seamless collaboration with health authorities.
This combination of reliability, scale, expertise, and local presence makes Hikma the preferred choice for healthcare authorities seeking a long-term partnership with a systemically important and resilient supplier who understands both global standards and local European market dynamics.
1. Medicines for Europe. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/medicines-for-europe_generic-medicines-are-the-backbone-of-activity-
2. IQVIA MAT May 2024, generic injectables by volume (excluding branded generics and Becton Dickinson)
