PharmaBoardroom today releases its new 46-page pharma report, Healthcare & Life Sciences Review Malta 2018
The tiny island nation of Malta is easy to miss on a map. Tucked away underneath Sicily, the country has a population of only 450,000 and an area of 316 km2. However, Malta has managed to establish itself as the fastest growing economy in the European Union with 6.6 percent GDP growth in 2017, thanks in large part to its willingness and ability to capitalize on niches ignored or disregarded by others.
This opportunistic and entrepreneurial mindset is especially prevalent in Malta’s healthcare and life sciences industries. A light regulatory touch has long attracted many companies to establish R&D and manufacturing plants for generic pharmaceuticals on the island in the knowledge that products developed in Malta can be launched globally immediately on the expiry of the originator drug – a massive draw factor for cost- and time-concious generics companies.
Building on this robust base, Malta continues to seek niches in which it can establish competitive advantages. The key opinion leaders, government officials and company heads featured in this report touch on many of these new niches – including medical tourism, the highly promising albeit controversial field of medical cannabis production, clinical research, as well as distribution and logistics – capitalizing on Malta’s highly strategic geographic position as a link between Europe and Africa.
With state actors now banging the drum for the country to transition into an innovation-based economy, the makeup of the Maltese healthcare and life sciences environment could look very different in a few years’ time. What is for certain is that this idiosyncratic island nation will take its own distinctive path to get there.
Interviews
The report features in-depth interviews with:
- Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses
- Claude A. Farrugia, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry
- Mario Galea, Malta Enterprise
- Chris Fearne, Minister for Health
- Joseph P. Sammut, Malta Life Sciences Park
- Marius Calleja, Starpharma
Quotes
“I truly believe that entrepreneurship and innovation is hardwired into the Maltese psyche”
Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses
“Although having to compete with bigger countries that are increasingly expressing an interest in pharma manufacturing might seem to be an obstacle for Malta, our strength lies in entering new niches where we identify competitive advantages”
Claude A. Farrugia, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry
“Malta’s experience as a manufacturing center of excellence will certainly be of great value as we make our first steps in the new medicinal cannabis production sub-niche”
Mario Galea, Malta Enterprise
“As long as your venture is credible, well thought out and economically viable, the chances are that you will encounter strong support from the government to get your business up and running”
Denis Borg, Maltese-Italian Chamber of Commerce
Click here to register and download the report.
