New pharmaceutical complex for a greener future

3D Rendering: Bird's eye view of the future pharmaceutical complex of EVA Pharma in Sudair. (Photo: io-consultants GmbH & Co. KG)

3D Rendering: Entrance of EVA’s future production site. (Photo: io-consultants GmbH & Co. KG)

3D Rendering: Sails equipped with photovoltaics on EVA's future production site. (Photo: io-consultants GmbH & Co. KG)

EVA Pharma, one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies in the Middle East and Africa, recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical research and production complex in Sudair, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, as well as the opening of its office in Riyadh. The consulting and planning firm io is responsible for the design of the complex with a vision for a greener and more sustainable future.

With a production capacity of around one billion units per year, this manufacturing facility aims to become a regional center for pharmaceutical production, providing sustainable access to innovative healthcare solutions. It will include, among other things, a research and development center capable of producing a variety of different dosage forms. The complex will manufacture more than 150 pharmaceutical products covering various therapeutic areas and addressing the Kingdom's most demanding health challenges in the future.

"Both personally and on behalf of the 5,000 employees of EVA Pharma, we feel very blessed to be here, and we are very excited about what we can offer to Saudi and Arab patients in the coming months and years. These manufacturing facilities will bring cutting-edge technologies to Saudi Arabia and help the Kingdom achieve its sought-after independence in healthcare," says Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma.

The strategic move by EVA Pharma into Saudi Arabia underscores the company's commitment to meeting unmet patient needs and marks the first steps in the Saudi market through extensive local investments. By establishing a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing complex in Sudair, EVA Pharma aims to contribute to the healthcare goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which envisions increasing local pharmaceutical production. The reform program of the healthcare sector aims to raise the private sector’s contribution to 50 percent, a significant increase from the current share of 11 percent.

Focus on Green Circular Economy

The Sudair complex was designed by io. The consulting and planning firm is responsible for the overall architectural concept, master planning, and the block division of the production of dosage forms (cosmetics, sterile and solid production), as well as for central packaging and logistics, water treatment, process engineering, administration, and all auxiliary functions. With a strategic concept, a phased implementation approach, and 3D visualization, io focused on an architectural language that considers both local culture and climate to develop a sustainable, future-proof production site.

To reduce negative environmental impacts, the complex will be equipped with solar systems, water recycling, and waste treatment systems. The design of the complex is not only a tribute to cultural roots but also strategically minimizes heat generation, significantly reducing the CO2 footprint. Temperatures fluctuate between minus degrees and plus 50 degrees Celsius. The lightweight materials used for the sails outside the building provide shade and cool both the outdoor area and adjacent building parts through natural air circulation. The tent shape acts as a passive energy source and shades the building itself, especially on the warmest side. The sails are equipped with an organic photovoltaic system that, together with the large-area photovoltaic panels on the roofs, is expected to generate up to 3 megawatts of solar energy.

The environmentally conscious approach of EVA Pharma seamlessly aligns with Saudi Arabia's vision for a greener and more sustainable future.

About EVA Pharma for Industry

EVA Pharma for Industry is a subsidiary of EVA Pharma Holdings, one of the fastest-growing healthcare companies in the Middle East and Africa. EVA Pharma for Industry is registered as a local pharmaceutical manufacturer in Saudi Arabia and focuses on sustainability and local investments within the Kingdom.

EVA Pharma supports the fight for health and well-being in communities worldwide. With a team of 5,000 professionals in over 40 countries, the company produces more than one million healthcare products daily in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, which are equipped with the latest technology, internationally recognized for their innovation, and approved by multiple regulatory authorities.

The company's product portfolio focuses on urgent but previously unmet disease areas such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, neuroscience, ophthalmology, anti-infectives, bone and pain disorders, hepatology, and reproductive health to meet both local and international demand.