Exploring partnership opportunities with Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Our VP of Group Business Development & Alliances, Faisal Darwazeh, shares insights on what makes Hikma an ideal partner for complex generics, specialty branded products, and biosimilars across North America, Europe and the MENA region.
Q1: What are you looking for in a partner?
A: We're looking for partners who share our commitment to long-term relationships - some of our partnerships date back to the early 1980s and are still thriving today.
Ideal partners have strong product development capabilities and offerings in our key markets: US, Canada, Europe, and MENA. We're interested in hospital, branded, and complex products across all dosage forms (injectables, orals, semi-solids, solids, nasal sprays) and therapeutic areas.
Market-specific interests:
- MENA: Innovative assets across all therapeutics
- US: 505(b)(2) opportunities aligned with our strategic presence
- Europe: Hospital segment focus.
Given our substantial US presence, we especially value partners with FDA approval or those pursuing it - we actively support submissions and guide global partners through the process.
We welcome flexible partnerships: co-development, early/late-stage licensing, or acquisitions. We want partners who value our active involvement in navigating regulatory complexities and launching products through our established channels across the US & Canada, Europe, and MENA.
“When partnering with Hikma, companies gain more than market access—they gain a committed, long-term partner with decades of experience, 29 manufacturing facilities globally, 3 R&D hubs, and complete regulatory and commercial infrastructure across the US, Canada, Europe, and MENA.”
Q2: Why should companies partner with you for North America, Europe and MENA markets?
A: We have a proven track record of successful in-licensing across these regions, and what sets us apart is our flexibility - we can structure partnerships regionally or globally, whatever works best for our partner and their business goals.
But our partnerships go well beyond just in-licensing. We provide strong manufacturing capabilities with 29 sites globally, 3 R&D hubs, and strong regulatory affairs track record and commercial expertise across all regions. What's increasingly setting us apart is our move toward co-development and localisation - bringing products into our local facilities to give partners a true end-to-end solution.
Our deep market knowledge, established infrastructure, and strong regulatory and commercial execution make us an ideal partner for success across all three regions.
Q3: What are your operational capabilities in North America, Europe, and MENA?
A: In the US, we're a top 10 generic player with four local manufacturing plants, an R&D hub for nasal, respiratory and semi-liquid forms, and decades of FDA experience. We're also top 3 in hospital injectables by volume, reaching nearly all mid-to-large US hospitals. We continue to invest in local manufacturing and we recently announced a $1B US investment over the next five years.
In Europe, we focus on the injectable hospital segment with direct commercial operations in most western European markets, backed by five manufacturing plants across Germany, Italy, and Portugal, plus an R&D hub in Zagreb, Croatia.
In MENA, we're the leading local pharmaceutical company by sales, with comprehensive market coverage, one R&D hub and 20 manufacturing plants. We have over 2,000 highly specialised commercial representatives across 17 markets reaching healthcare professionals, pharmacists, in clinics and hospitals.
Q4: What does the partnership process look like from initial discussion to launch?
A: From initial discussion to closing typically takes a few months, during which we analyse the product, market potential, regulatory pathway, competitive landscape, and negotiate terms.
We have dedicated BD teams with deep local expertise across US Hospital, US Rx, Europe Hospital, and MENA branded and biosimilars. Our teams are located in the US, Europe, Middle East, and China.
What sets us apart is that we handle everything in-house—from R&D and clinical assessment to manufacturing, regulatory/legal, and commercial launch. We even have our own US and EU approved bioequivalence centre. This means partners get seamless, expert support at every stage of the value chain
To discuss partnership opportunities, contact us directly:
Bassam Kanaan, EVP, Group Corporate Development & M&A
Faisal Darwazeh, Vice President Group Business Development & Alliances
Kareem Darwazah, VP, Business Development & Alliance Management, MENA
Natrajan Kumaraperumal, AVP, Business Development ,Injectables
Brett Bukvic, AVP, Strategy & Business Development, Rx, US
Ana Santos Perez, Manager, Business Development, Europe