Company Reports - Universal Corp Ltd
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Universal Corp Ltd
Quality pharmaceuticals accessible to all
Written by Ian Armitage & Produced by Francesca Birkenhead
Universal Corporation Ltd of Kenya (UCL) is a highly reputable drug company based in Kenya. Certified under the European PIC/S scheme, the company hopes to receive the World Health Organisation (WHO) certification soon. It has already succeeded in opening doors in several African countries, where drug imports are regulated, but WHO certification will open many more.
“I believe I’m right in saying that UCL is the fastest growing pharmaceutical company in east and central Africa with a presence in 15 countries,” says Palu Dhanani who, along with Pentti Keskitalo and Raju Dhanani, formed the company with the target of producing “more affordable, quality drugs” for African countries. “Our main near-term goal is to be certified by the WHO, which will make us eligible to participate in international bidding to provide malaria, TB and AIDS drugs,” he continues.
“In Kenya, effective medications are often too expensive for people to afford. Our mission is to produce quality pharmaceuticals accessible to all.”
UCL’s quest for quality certification by the World Health Organisation, usually a prerequisite for sales to international aid organisations, is pending and all seems well for the company. Its plant has already been approved in inspections conducted by several African authorities as well as aid organisations operating in Europe and America.
“Our production plant is in the small town of Kikuyu near Nairobi, where we make many dif ferent pharmaceutical products,” says Dhanani, who explained that much of its equipment was acquired at affordable cost from Finland. However, funding from Finnfund has enabled the firm to improve many facets.
“The funding has helped us modernise the plant and expand production facilities,” Dhanani says. “Demand for affordable, quality drugs, is non-relenting.”
The Finnish development finance company Finnfund has certainly played a pivotal role in UCL’s development. “Finnfund par ticipated in developing the plant with investment loans and equity offered to the company; our environmental investments an progress towards WHO certification have been targets of long-term loans,” says Dhanani. “We have received, and continue to receive, fantastic support.”
HISTORY
According to Palu Dhanani, UCL got its name from Universal Pharmacy (K) Ltd (UPKL), which came into being in 1996 with a small manufacturing unit in Industrial Area, Nairobi, Kenya. He said that UPKL started manufacturing tablets, initially, and added a syrup and suspension line.
“It was focused on quality and that quality remains, but our aim was for more,” Dhanani says. “So we set about creating a bigger, stateof- the-art pharma manufacturing unit in Kenya. We have obviously achieved that.”
Today UCL manufactures over 100 formulations, including tablets, capsules and creams and liquids (syrups and suspensions). “Our presence has spread to Malawi , Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, DRC, Sierra Leone and Somalia, with many more added over the past year,” says Dhanani. “We are growing at a very high rate of almost 90 percent every year,” he adds.
UCL currently produces a number of products, but WHO approval may see it refocus. “We are focused on anti-malarial drugs, for instance,” says Dhanani. “We have a very wide portfolio of medicines among our anti-malarial range.” It includes drugs from quinine to the very latest COMAX & now Artemisinin+ Piperaquine. “We are also focused on manufacturing FDCs for HIV treatment. We are distinguished in that field, in fact,” Dhanani continues. “We also have several products for managing different illnesses and infections. They are both human and veterinary.”
UCL is focused on quality. It is the firm’s major concern. As a result, its production lines are manned by highly qualified and trained staff who undergo regular training on GMP procedures. “That is important to us, even if it is costly,” says Dhanani, who added that with competition fierce in China and India, it can be a challenge to compete on price. “The challenge in this part of the world is affordability and the competition from India and China is very strong,” says Dhanani.
“Economies of scale do not allow for us to be competitive unless we apply for the global fund tenders where it gives us the economies of scale to fight certain giants from the east. That is why the WHO is very important.”
A BRIGHT FUTURE
His vision is for UCL to be the leading partner in providing “quality and affordable” healthcare in Kenya and beyond. “The future of the business is bright,” Dhanani explains. “Our growth strategy includes a large share from the export market and we are targeting many countries across the African continent.
“I’m confident that we will get WHO prequalification for some major products, including fixed dose combination ARVs and anti-malarial range,” he adds. “That will enable us to double up turnovers and profits for the next five years.”
In the fast growing African pharmaceutical market, UCL is leading the way. A lot of emphasis is being put on the quality and affordability of the drugs and the future is bright indeed.
“I believe I’m right in saying that UCL is the fastest growing pharmaceutical company in east and central Africa with a presence in 15 countries,” says Palu Dhanani who, along with Pentti Keskitalo and Raju Dhanani, formed the company with the target of producing “more affordable, quality drugs” for African countries. “Our main near-term goal is to be certified by the WHO, which will make us eligible to participate in international bidding to provide malaria, TB and AIDS drugs,” he continues.
“In Kenya, effective medications are often too expensive for people to afford. Our mission is to produce quality pharmaceuticals accessible to all.”
UCL’s quest for quality certification by the World Health Organisation, usually a prerequisite for sales to international aid organisations, is pending and all seems well for the company. Its plant has already been approved in inspections conducted by several African authorities as well as aid organisations operating in Europe and America.
“Our production plant is in the small town of Kikuyu near Nairobi, where we make many dif ferent pharmaceutical products,” says Dhanani, who explained that much of its equipment was acquired at affordable cost from Finland. However, funding from Finnfund has enabled the firm to improve many facets.
“The funding has helped us modernise the plant and expand production facilities,” Dhanani says. “Demand for affordable, quality drugs, is non-relenting.”
The Finnish development finance company Finnfund has certainly played a pivotal role in UCL’s development. “Finnfund par ticipated in developing the plant with investment loans and equity offered to the company; our environmental investments an progress towards WHO certification have been targets of long-term loans,” says Dhanani. “We have received, and continue to receive, fantastic support.”
HISTORY
According to Palu Dhanani, UCL got its name from Universal Pharmacy (K) Ltd (UPKL), which came into being in 1996 with a small manufacturing unit in Industrial Area, Nairobi, Kenya. He said that UPKL started manufacturing tablets, initially, and added a syrup and suspension line.
“It was focused on quality and that quality remains, but our aim was for more,” Dhanani says. “So we set about creating a bigger, stateof- the-art pharma manufacturing unit in Kenya. We have obviously achieved that.”
Today UCL manufactures over 100 formulations, including tablets, capsules and creams and liquids (syrups and suspensions). “Our presence has spread to Malawi , Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, DRC, Sierra Leone and Somalia, with many more added over the past year,” says Dhanani. “We are growing at a very high rate of almost 90 percent every year,” he adds.
UCL currently produces a number of products, but WHO approval may see it refocus. “We are focused on anti-malarial drugs, for instance,” says Dhanani. “We have a very wide portfolio of medicines among our anti-malarial range.” It includes drugs from quinine to the very latest COMAX & now Artemisinin+ Piperaquine. “We are also focused on manufacturing FDCs for HIV treatment. We are distinguished in that field, in fact,” Dhanani continues. “We also have several products for managing different illnesses and infections. They are both human and veterinary.”
UCL is focused on quality. It is the firm’s major concern. As a result, its production lines are manned by highly qualified and trained staff who undergo regular training on GMP procedures. “That is important to us, even if it is costly,” says Dhanani, who added that with competition fierce in China and India, it can be a challenge to compete on price. “The challenge in this part of the world is affordability and the competition from India and China is very strong,” says Dhanani.
“Economies of scale do not allow for us to be competitive unless we apply for the global fund tenders where it gives us the economies of scale to fight certain giants from the east. That is why the WHO is very important.”
A BRIGHT FUTURE
His vision is for UCL to be the leading partner in providing “quality and affordable” healthcare in Kenya and beyond. “The future of the business is bright,” Dhanani explains. “Our growth strategy includes a large share from the export market and we are targeting many countries across the African continent.
“I’m confident that we will get WHO prequalification for some major products, including fixed dose combination ARVs and anti-malarial range,” he adds. “That will enable us to double up turnovers and profits for the next five years.”
In the fast growing African pharmaceutical market, UCL is leading the way. A lot of emphasis is being put on the quality and affordability of the drugs and the future is bright indeed.
