SED Initiatives

Sandton – Aspen welcomes President Ramaphosa’s inaugural Investment Conference, aimed at positioning South Africa as a preferred investment destination and at establishing a more predictable and stable investment environment in our country. Amongst other initiatives, this includes facilitating the ease of doing business and reducing unnecessary regulatory burden in the South African pharmaceutical sector. These initiatives are aimed at rewarding investors and contributing to higher levels of inclusive growth in the country. Following the positive sentiment from the President’s announcement of a $100bn investment target and his recently released economic stimulus measures, Aspen is pleased to announce an additional R3,4bn capital expenditure investment at its Port Elizabeth manufacturing site, South Africa’s single biggest pharmaceutical investment. “The President’s commitment to establishing a more predictable, stable investment environment and reducing regulatory burden in key economic sectors, such as the pharmaceutical sector, is very encouraging and supports Aspen’s decision to make this R3,4bn investment in sterile anaesthetics manufacture, a niche, high tech manufacturing capability that presents both domestic and export opportunities” said Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Senior Executive, speaking at the conference. During the announcement at the conference, Nicolaou added, “While Aspen operates manufacturing plants in many geographies, it has chosen South Africa as the location for its largest and most critical manufacturing facilities. Aspen is encouraged by the South African Government’s investment direction, but a number of regulatory hurdles remain in the pharmaceutical sector. Our latest investment undertaking is a clear vote of confidence in the President’s commitment to resolving these hurdles and establishing a more conducive investment climate in the sector, bringing with it the momentum for further pharmaceutical investments.” Nicolaou concluded that, “Aspen has become one of the global leaders in a number of niche, specialty therapeutic segments, such as anaesthetic, high potency and injectable anti-coagulant products, which present highly specialised public and private health opportunities. The ongoing investment in our Port Elizabeth site will transform it into one of the world’s leading global hubs for anaesthetic products and will provide a tremendous economic boost for the Eastern Cape, one of the country’s most economically challenged provinces. This is an achievement that both Aspen and our country can be extremely proud of.” Issued by: Shauneen Beukes, Aspen Group Communications Manager Tel: +27 (012) 661-8467: Cell: +27 82 389 8900 On Behalf Of: Stavros Nicolaou Cell: 082 458 3135 Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive Tel: +27 (031) 580-8603 Gus Attridge, Aspen Deputy Group Chief Executive Tel: +27 (031) 580-8605 About Aspen Aspen is a leading global player in specialty, branded and generic pharmaceuticals with an extensive basket of products that provide treatment for a broad spectrum of acute and chronic conditions experienced through all stages of life. Aspen remains committed to its core values of providing quality and effective healthcare solutions to millions of patients in more than 150 countries, with its core focus being in the Thrombosis, Anaesthetic and High Potency & Cytotoxic therapeutic categories. Aspen has a strong presence in both emerging and developed countries. Its emerging market footprint includes Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising Russia and the former Soviet Republics. It is also a leading pharmaceutical company in developed countries including Australia and most notably in Western Europe. Aspen operates with an established business presence in approximately 50 countries spanning 6 continents and employs more than 10,000 people. The Group operates 26 manufacturing facilities across 18 sites. Aspen holds international manufacturing approvals from some of the most stringent global regulatory agencies including the FDA, TGA and EMA. Aspen’s manufacturing capabilities are scalable to demand and cover a wide variety of product-types including oral solid dose, liquids, semi-solids, steriles, biologicals, APIs and infant nutritionals. Aspen is the largest pharmaceutical company listed on the JSE Limited (share code: APN) and ranks amongst the top 20 listed companies on this exchange. For more information visit: https://www.aspenpharma.com/ Disclaimer We may make statements that are not historical facts and relate to analyses and other information based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These are forward looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “seek”, “will”, “plan”, “indicate, “could”, “may”, “endeavor”, “prospects” and “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may be very different from those anticipated. The factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward looking statements are discussed in each year’s annual report. 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Johannesburg – JSE Limited listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, is, for the eighth consecutive year, participating in Mandela Day through activities hosted by its businesses spanning 6 continents. Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “We heeded the Mandela Day call for the first time in 2011 and we have continued to remain actively involved in this programme. As our businesses are geographically diverse, we don’t limit our activities to 18 July, but extend these to run throughout the year. This approach has reinforced our ongoing participation in socio economic initiatives that contribute towards improving the lives of less fortunate citizens across the world. Respect, caring, integrity and passion are central to our DNA as are similar values that have been adopted by the Mandela Foundation.” Saad added that Aspen is encouraged by its employees who are eager to make a difference for others. “Interest in Mandela Day has grown at Aspen over the years with participation having resulted in thousands of our people committing to the programme, but more importantly, continuing to remain involved with beneficiaries long after 18 July. We collectively roll up our sleeves and demonstrate our care by joining hands across the continents through a vast range of initiatives that require support. These projects relate to the likes of healthcare, nutrition, education, social enhancement and development, infrastructural improvements, animal wellbeing and preserving our environment.” Mr Saad said that no act of kindness is more important than another. A sales representative who decides to buy lunch for a homeless person and share in conversation while enjoying a meal together touches a life just as a team painting classrooms or preparing meals for the elderly would. “Mr Mandela called on all citizens to contribute toward making the world a better place and we are humbled to have been able to host some 430 projects that have touched the lives of nearly 450 000 beneficiaries to date through our caring acts of kindness demonstrated in celebration of Mandela Day. Every citizen has the ability to #bethelegacy and you are encouraged to do so to,” added Mr Saad. Read more about Aspen’s Mandela Day activities at www.aspenmandeladay.com and follow us on FaceBook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Through public private partnership the Gauteng Department of Health and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) gave recognition to their Motor Neuron Disease (MND) clinic as a center of excellence to intensify its health care services. This is in response to a  desperate need to offer special care to patients who are suffering from this debilitating progressive disease, which in many instances ends up paralyzing patients, often described as patients being trapped in their own bodies. Rugby legend, former Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen succumbed to the disease in Febuary 2017. Gauteng’s MEC for Health,  Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, highlighted the plight of the largely forgotten sufferers of MND at the event hosted on 6 July and added her admiration for the late Joost’s fight against the disease and his efforts to raise public awareness, particularly those from disadvantaged and resource constrained patients. “Patients now have regular access to therapy across a range of disciplines, including medical care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social workers,” said MEC Ramokgopa. The Clinic is a joint collaboration between a number of stakeholders, including the Provincial Department of Health, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Wits University Medical School, The Joost van der Westhuizen Neurodegeneration Foundation (JCN), Aspen and various Patient Support Groupings. Stavros Nicolaou, said “MND and other associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as ALS are among the most progressively debilitating medical conditions known to humanity, with patients and their families enduring tremendous hardship. This initiative is a good example of how collective efforts and focus of the private and public sectors, can deliver world class solutions and make a meaningful difference to patients and the healthcare system at large.” “While MND is a poorly understood condition and one that requires significant further effort, there are a number of practical steps that can be taken to materially improve the quality of life of patients, particularly those that are resource constrained. This initiative will make a significant difference to those patients. Although Aspen is not directly involved in the MND therapeutic area, it has a number of neuroscience products, which offer a broad range of therapeutic solutions and this initiative is supportive of Aspen’s neuroscientific presence,” added Stavros. With the assistance of Aspen, the team will work towards improving access to care for MND patients, furthering South African research efforts and building relationships with international researchers with a view to establishing clinical trials in South Africa. It’s a bold step towards the end goal of creating a world-class centre of excellence housed in its own building and dedicated to the care, research and well-being of MND patients.

One of Aspen’s key business imperatives is the creation of stakeholder value. The communities Aspen operates within remain amongst the Group’s most important stakeholders, with healthcare being one of the key aspects to ensuring sustainable communities. While South Africa is currently burdened with one of the world’s most disproportionate disease profiles, it also has enthusiastic and spirited healthcare workers and a large human capital base that can be tapped into. In line with Aspen’s commitment to develop this human capital and to resource the South African healthcare sector, Aspen has spearheaded the formation of The Public Health Enhancement Fund (PHEF) in South Africa, resulting in a private/public partnership and social compact between the South African Department of Health and the South African private sector.  This partnership has had an considerable positive impact on the public healthcare sector in South Africa – below is a link to short video providing a brief insight into this partnership and the benefits derived from it.