Egypt Expands Local Production of Polio & Rabies Vaccines

Local manufacturing of the polio and rabies vaccines is moving ahead as part of Egypt’s wider effort to strengthen pharmaceutical security and reduce reliance on imported biologics. According to the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), vaccine localisation remains a central priority, with work underway to supervise all stages of development—covering raw materials, registration, inspections and bio-equivalence studies.

Fakseri, identified in the story as a key partner in this effort, has completed three production batches of the injectable polio vaccine following a technology-transfer agreement with Dutch manufacturer Bilthoven. The company is also preparing to begin full domestic production of the rabies vaccine within the next two months, marking one of the first major expansions in Egypt’s locally manufactured biologics portfolio.

In addition to these two vaccines, negotiations are in progress to introduce local manufacturing for pneumococcal and cervical-cancer vaccines, with the aim of covering up to two million doses per year. The broader initiative forms part of an ongoing national strategy to build self-sufficiency in essential medical supplies, bolster supply-chain resilience and develop Egypt’s capacity in biologics and vaccine production.