Press Releases

Durban, South Africa – Aspen, a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, is pleased to confirm that the first supplies to South Africa of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, from the new API source located in Europe, will be released to Johnson & Johnson from its flagship Gqeberha-based manufacturing site later today. These vaccines will be further distributed throughout South Africa in line with the various distribution arrangements between Johnson & Johnson, the National Department of Health and other stakeholders. In addition, vaccines from these batches will be made available through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team/African Union platform. This represents a significant landmark for South Africa and the African continent as these are the first COVID-19 vaccines to be produced on the African continent, by an African producer for South African and African patients. Supplies will also be made to the European Union and other offshore markets. Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Aspen is proud of the role we are playing in producing vaccines for distribution in South Africa, across Africa and the world. Our ability to produce these vaccines on behalf of Johnson & Johnson builds on our strategic vision of delivering high quality, affordable medicines that improve health outcomes for patients in our own country, continent and around the world.  Supply for Africa and South Africa is particularly rewarding, given the current global inequality in accessing vaccines. This represents a big step forward in ensuring that Africa can address its healthcare priorities. The manufacture of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine builds on the global contributions we have already made in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with both our anaesthetics portfolio and dexamethasone supply.” ABOUT ASPEN’S GQEBERHA STERILE SITE Aspen has invested in excess of R3.0 billion at this sterile manufacturing site, based in the Eastern Cape, the single largest investment in the pharmaceutical industry in South Africa. The new sterile facility contains high-technology, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical equipment and systems that will be used to manufacture advanced sterile medicines, including vaccines. These investments at the Gqeberha manufacturing site, which has been a cornerstone of both local antiretroviral and multi drug-resistant TB manufacture, demonstrate Aspen’s ongoing and enduring commitment to South Africa and the continent. With roots firmly embedded in African soil, a continent which carries a disproportionately high disease burden, the investment in advanced pharmaceutical technology enables Aspen to continue to contribute to improved access to treatment, respond to public health emergencies and to create significant economic, export and job creation opportunities. This facility allows Aspen to manufacture multiple and complex sterile products, such as vaccines and Aspen’s global anaesthetics. It will also ensure quality and security of both domestic and international supply. ABOUT ASPEN’S COLLABORATION WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON It is with much pride and gratitude that Aspen has collaborated with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceutica, NV, two of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, which have demonstrated their commitment to equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Aspen’s Gqeberha site is the only manufacturing site on the African continent and in the southern hemisphere selected by a global multinational pharmaceutical company of this magnitude to contract manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.

Stephen Saad’s address on the occasion of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit at our Sterile Facility in the Eastern Cape at which time he announced the agreement reached with Johnson & Johnson to supply 250 million covid-19 vaccines to Africa, with 30 million being for South Africa

Gqeberha, South Africa – Aspen, a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, earlier today hosted President Cyril Ramaphosa and an accompanying government delegation at its flagship manufacturing site in the Eastern Cape. Aspen has invested in excess of R3.0 billion at this sterile manufacturing site, the single largest investment in the pharmaceutical industry in South Africa. The new sterile facility contains high-technology, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical equipment and systems that will be used to manufacture advanced sterile medicines, including vaccines.   These investments at the Gqeberha manufacturing site, which has been a cornerstone of both local ARV and MDR TB manufacture, demonstrate Aspen’s ongoing and enduring commitment to South Africa and the continent. With roots firmly embedded in African soil, a continent which carries a disproportionately high disease burden, the investment in advanced pharmaceutical technology enables Aspen to continue to contribute to improved access to treatment, respond to public health emergencies and to create significant economic, export and job creation opportunities. This facility will allow Aspen to manufacture multiple and complex sterile products, such as vaccines and Aspen’s global anaesthetics. It will also ensure quality and security of both domestic and international supply.  As South Africa and the world grapples with the management of the COVID pandemic, this strategic investment will materially contribute to the management of this pandemic. Through the collaboration announced between Aspen and Johnson & Johnson, Aspen is the only manufacturing site on the African continent and in the southern hemisphere selected by Johnson & Johnson to compound, fill, finish and package the Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company) COVID-19 vaccine. Aspen and Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to Africa is further underpinned by continued collaboration to enhance the amount of vaccines produced at this facility, with most of the production serving the needs of Africans. We are very proud and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced healthcare companies who has committed to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This has been demonstrated through their actions and was fundamental in our considerations of which company to partner. The Aspen and Johnson & Johnson project teams responsible for the technical transfer process at the new sterile facility, worked tireless ensuring collaboration in keeping to the ambitious goals and beating timelines. During this time, the Aspen project team have strengthened their technical competencies, complementing the capabilities of these highly skilled Aspen employees and enhancing a knowledge base in South Africa that will contribute to further solving future public challenges. Most of the vaccines manufactured at this Aspen’s new sterile facility in 2021 will be supplied to South Africa and the member states of the African Union.  The South African government agreement with Johnson & Johnson, is to deliver more than 30 million doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to South Africans, with the first deliveries being made in April 2021. The African Union is expected to receive over 400 million doses. Addressing delegates at Aspen’s sterile facility in Gqeberha, H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “We are here to see how we can save lives. I am pleased to inform you that Johnson & Johnson has agreed to make 250 million vaccines available to Africa with 30 million for South Africans.  Coming here to this facility in Gqeberha has been an honour. Aspen belongs to us as South Africans and it is making life saving vaccines and we as South Africans must be in pole position to receive these vaccines and for them to be made available to the continent immediately. We are pleased of what we have seen here and the commitment of Aspen’s people. This world class facility is in another league and I congratulate Aspen on this facility to manufacture vaccines for our country and for our continent. I would also like to congratulate Aspen on living up to their promise of investing more than R3 billion in our country.”  Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “This is a watershed moment for Aspen as we continue to implement our strategic vision of delivering quality, affordable medicines using high-technology pharmaceutical equipment, contributing to improved health outcomes. This vision has come with much sacrifice and perseverance however we have been rewarded through the endorsement of the relevance of our product portfolio and capital investments at our manufacturing facilities. Our sterile capacity is a big step to ensuring that Africa has both the capacity and capabilities to reduce its reliance on other countries in addressing its healthcare priorities. The manufacture of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine builds on the global contributions we have made with both our anaesthetics portfolio and dexamethasone supply. We are particularly proud that this vaccine manufacture is taking place in Africa. We hope that our success will inspire and give confidence to others to further invest in our continent. We have set ourselves a further target to become the pandemic solution for Africa. Security of supply for Africans is best achieved through African facilities. Aspen intends to assist with this goal by targeting further enhancement of capacities on the existing sterile footprint to ensure that we have the capabilities to give one liquid dose of vaccine per African person.” “Finally, with all the capacities and investments, this could not have been achieved without the dedication, commitment and passion of the Aspen and Johnson & Johnson technical teams. To each and every one of you, we at Aspen, in fact every citizen of our continent and millions more across the globe owe you a massive debt of gratitude. You are our heroes. Thank you, Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika.” Premier Oscar Mabuyane said, “The commitment for this investment was made at the Investment Conference initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2018, where Aspen announced plans to invest 3.4 billion in our province to manufacture sterile anaesthetics, a niche and high tech manufacturing capability that presents both domestic and export opportunities. We view their investment as the fruits of President Ramaphosa’s leadership and the confidence of social partners to the direction he is leading the country to.” “At that time Aspen made